REVIEW: Danny and the Deep Blue Sea
Broken People. Brutal Honestly.
I get very excited about shows like this. An intimate two-hander, staged in a storefront by acting students, with minimal sets, props, and lighting is my favorite thing these days. Not just because I love passion projects, at least when they are done well, but because productions like Danny and the Deep Blue Sea put the words, emotions, characters—and themes—at the forefront.
John Patrick Shanley’s Danny and the Deep Blue Sea first hit the stage in 1984. You might recognize Shanley’s name from Moonstruck, but this piece dives into much darker waters. It’s an intense, no-holds-barred two-person drama about loneliness, anger, and the desperate need for connection.
The story takes place in a Bronx bar, where two emotionally battered strangers, Danny and Roberta, cross paths. Danny, who’s earned the nickname “The Beast” because of his violent temper, is raw and unpredictable. Roberta carries the weight of deep guilt and shame, which has left her just as closed off from the world. Their conversation goes from explosive to tender and back again as they wrestle with their own pain and the possibility of finding comfort in each other. It’s messy, it’s human, and it doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff.
What makes this play unforgettable is how Shanley captures the rawness of these characters—their dialogue is poetic but grounded, their struggles so painfully real that you can’t look away. It’s the kind of theater that punches you in the gut but also gives you a glimpse of hope. Originally performed at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, it’s been a favorite for intimate productions ever since, and for good reason. Danny and the Deep Blue Sea reminds us that even in our most broken moments, connection is possible—if we’re brave enough to reach for it.
Directed by Brandon Cook (and stage managed by Jordyn Hill), this naturalistic production moves at a brisk pace. Evan Kupersmith (“Danny”) is marvelous, giving a grounded and realistic portrayal of this broken man. Yodeet Nymberg plays “Roberta,” and her shame-ridden angst is at the forefront of her equally realistic performance. Together their chemistry is palpable. With Shanley’s words dripping from their mouths, they create a kind of stage magic that’s both enthralling and devastating.
This is not a feel-good romantic comedy by any measure. But this production captures the essence of what it means to be very broken and very lonely. And more than that, it reminds us of the transformative power of a moment shared between two people who are willing to face their darkness head-on. This team of CCM acting students should be very proud.