Quirky lead character, dark comedy make great combo in 'Vigil'

A young man gets word that his elderly aunt is dying, so he quits his job and rushes to be at her side.

With that basic premise, you would expect Vigil, the play being presented by Amphibian Stage Productions at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, to be a touching drama about familial relationships.

But when the young man, Kemp (Jonathan Fielding) enters and pleasantly asks the bedridden woman, Grace (Elly Lindsay), "Do you want to be cremated?" you realize that it may not be that kind of show.

Instead, Vigil is a dark comedy that showcases the extensive talent of Fielding, a TCU grad who now has some Broadway shows on his résumé.

That is not to say that Lindsay doesn't also do a fine job. But the structure of this two-character play is such that she doesn't have much to say (which, if anything, makes her job harder). This two-act work by Canadian playwright Morris Panych is almost a monologue by Kemp -- a raging misanthrope who bounces his life off the silently sympathetic Grace like a basketball off a backboard.

And no matter how carefully he aims his shot, the ball keeps coming back to him.

Vigil is one of those shows that cannot be discussed in much detail without ruining its surprises. Suffice it to say that this script has turns that you may or may not see coming. And some of its greatest joys are in those moments that should not be revealed here.

But the most satisfying aspect of the production, sharply directed by Andrew Volkoff, is Fielding's fine work. He serves up his quirky character in adroitly measured portions and makes us believe in the unbelievable Kemp.

Be aware, however, that this is not a show for everyone. It is a stage comedy that owes much more to Samuel Beckett than to Neil Simon. To truly enjoy it, you must embrace its oddness and shut out the real world.