Populated by Western legends like Wild Bill Hickok and Jesse James, Sundance contemplates theories of change while set in a saloon. From the pre-show on, the audience is treated to a taste of authenticity with the bartender (Alexis Budd) behind the counter, reading while everyone files in. The play does not have a lot of action (aside from the gunshots that are fired towards the end) but contains a lot of dialogue, much of it ramblings about reason and rationales, questioning why things are the way they are and how (and if) they should adapt and alter to the world and people around them. Hickok (Carmine Lucarelli) and Jesse (Geoff Kolomayz) begin with some entertaining banter about the pleasures of shooting others, however it slips into talking-head mode shortly. This comedic play by M.Z. Ribalow is enjoyable and amusing, not exciting, challenging or particularly witty. The costumes look great – diverse, evocative and colourful though not quite weathered enough – and the dialogue rings true with its slangy rhythms and drawled deliveries. The actors earn laughs for the show’s charms, surprises and non-sequiturs amid an atmospheric sound design by Kyle Layton Thomas. Characters are sharply drawn and solidly performed, based on the good idea behind Ribalow’s script; however the piece never became compelling. Directors Eli Jenkins and Ana-Marija Stojic could have emphasized the humour even further (instead of leaving long stretches of dialogue with a laugh) by tossing in a few more sight gags and innovative blocking on the small stage to engage the audience further, however at 40 minutes the show seems to fly by.
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