Southampton - The final show of the "Triple Play 2010" put on at the Southampton Cultural Center is "The Laramie Project." The moving chronicle is about the town of Laramie's (Wyoming) reaction to the brutal 1998 murder of gay student Matthew Shepard. The prior two plays were "Private Lives" and "12 Angry Men."

Actresses Vay David and Mary Ellen Roche.

The play draws on hundreds of interviews conducted by the members of New York's Tectonic Theater Project. The company went to Laramie and interviewed the people of the town and combined the interviews with their own experiences there. Director Moisés Kaufman and the company are credited as the authors and also are depicted in the play. The company visited Laramie six times over a two year period.

Shepard was a 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming who was tortured and murdered near Laramie in October 1998. He was attacked on the night of October 6, and died at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado, on October 12 from severe head injuries.

Speaking with SHCC's director of "The Laramie Project," the always insightful Michael Disher following Sunday's performance, he relayed that "I was interested in doing a comedy, drama and tragedy this year, and since many of the younger cast members in 'The Laramie Project' had never heard of Matthew Shepard, or had little or no recollection of this tragic incident, it seemed important and appropriate to be reminded."

Actor Matthew O'Connor.

In particular, Disher expressed that currently this play is very relevant as this Fall President Obama signed anti-hate legislation into law that is partly named for Shepard.

During the trial of his attackers, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson, witnesses stated that Shepard was targeted because he was gay. Henderson pleaded guilty on April 5, 1999, and agreed to testify against McKinney to avoid the death penalty; he received two consecutive life sentences. The jury in McKinney's trial found him guilty of felony murder. As they began to deliberate on the death penalty, Shepard's parents brokered a deal, resulting in McKinney receiving two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole.

The events leading up to the attack, the media storm that descended on the community; the death, trial and sentencing of the attackers, as well as heart-wrenching and emotional condemnation made by Shepard's father at the sentencing are all contained in "The Laramie Project" - what is also part of the play - and second only to the death of Shepard is the destructive, biased, unforgiving, hateful fearfulness one human being is capable of rendering to another.

Disher's cast must have experienced a few sleepless nights getting into character for their roles. This play is brutal and upsetting in its subject matter, and disturbing and saddening in the realization that events that led to the death of a young man more than a dozen years ago are still prevalent in our society today.

Actors and brothers James and Daniel Yaiullo.

With absolute consummate professionalism, integrity, taste and courage the entire cast is to be commended for their performances. In particular, Vay David and Paul Consiglio are simply outstanding. Each performer was required to assume the identity and character of multiple persons in this tragedy, and all do so with grace, intelligence and sensitivity.

The cast moves about a stark stage design with only black chairs and a screen behind them showing pictures of Laramie - making it all the more difficult to channel their dialogue or emotions anywhere but 'in your face.' With expert lighting by Peter Eilenberg a tone and mood of oppressive sadness and outrage are immediately inferred.

Even the dark wardrobe worn by each cast member instills an unkempt and downtrodden visualness that only confirms the bleakness of a community that was dumbfounded to find themselves in the national spotlight following such a tragic event.

Actor Randall Krongard.

Disher additionally commented that "It has been fascinating to see how important this show has become to the cast with each performance. Sometimes actors may feel buried in fictional characters, and this was an opportunity for many of them to not only portray a real character but multiple characters as well." He continued "You could see the responsibility each cast member naturally assumed to portray 'their' character with as much honesty and sensitivity as is possible for any actor to bring to a role."

There are some old (young) favorites in this production as well, including Adam Fronc, V.J. Chiaramonte, and Bethany Dellapolla, whose performances are, as always, top-notch and mesmerizing. As mentioned in the past - keep your eyes on these three - they are destined for very long careers in the theatre, or in any acting medium they pursue. However, be assured that each and every performer from this large cast is individually noteworthy by the obvious professionalism brought by each to the stage.

Disher is well-known for assembling the finest performers the East End has to offer, and "The Laramie Project" once again confirms that this man is a local treasure for what he brings to the community and to the stage.

Actors V.J. Chiaramonte and Bethany Dellapolla.

Reference is made in the play to "Laramie - Like No Place On Earth - Population 26,687" - well, that population did explode with the subsequent media frenzy that descended on this town, and unfortunately, Laramie did turn out to be like other places on earth, however, a tremendous candor and honesty is revealed by its citizens as documented by the Tectonic Theater Project in the original production, and Disher with a tremendously talented cast of veterans and newcomers assures that "The Laramie Project" is revealed with all its blemishes, but also with the hope of a community to move past a horrific crime that took place where they live.

This play should be required attendance for any high school age, college bound or current college student - not to mention adults - as Disher and cast have once again managed to bring an important piece of theatre to the East End that will require much thought and conversation long after the final bow.

The show runs through February 5 at the SHCC Levitas Center for the Arts, 25 Pond Lane, across from Agawam Park in Southampton Village. For tickets, call Southampton Cultural Center at 631-287-4377 or go to www.southamptonculturalcenter.org.

Actors Paul Consiglio, Alison Rose DeTemple and Adam Fronc.