Philip Shortell and Steven Higgins Photo by Rhonda Sigler-Ware

Williams is best known for his Pulitzer Prize winning A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. His later plays of the 1960s and '70s were not received so well. Small Craft Warnings, however, contains some of the same powerful poetic language and emotional weight of his earlier successes. This 1972 play also concerns desire, mental illness, and the fragility of human relationships but in a less well-structured play.

Eight down and out characters are thrown together at Monk's bar, a seedy meeting place for these "regulars" on the Southern California coast. As the fog rolls in, these marginal people reveal their lives through a kaleidoscope of interactions and monologues. There is no overall arch, rather each character arch is part of the tableau of the play. This approach is less satisfying and feels a bit like an exercise in the development of the play.

Nevertheless, the production does provide a visceral and thought-provoking experience. Overall, it is designed and acted with quiet professionalism. Each actor brings a diverse note of desperation to this caldron of loneliness and despair.

Steven Higgins anchors the action as Monk, the bar owner. He wants to keep the peace and stay under the radar. Higgins brings the right physical attributes to this role and his well-modulated voice has authority. Tim Riley, as the lothario living by his sex appeal, is almost too down and out to be believed as a man who seduces women. But maybe that's the point.

Veteran actor Philip J. Shortell is completely believable as Doc, the disgraced doctor. His monologue is particularly affective. Michael Weppler as the vacuous Steve is believable as a man who has little in his life. Jeffrey Siddall as Quentin, the washed-out screenwriter, gives a spot-on monologue. And Lucious James Sanchez as the runaway, Bobby, on his way to Mexico is appropriately flighty. These last two characters are gay men whose gayness seems perfunctory.

Special kudos go to the ladies of Small Craft Warnings. Stephanie Jones as Violet and Lorri Layle Oliver as Leona are excellent. Ms. Jones is generally playing against type, and she pulls out all the stops to give Violet the fragility and nastiness called for. Her costume and wig are doing a lot of the work for her, but she captures the essence of a woman totally without an anchor. Lorri Layle Oliver brings a lot to Leona, by far the most subtle character. A lot of the more philosophical ideas are embedded in her monologues, of which there are several. Lorri plows through like the can do, get things done woman Leona is. She covers her pain with bravado, and we see her scars.

Pete Parkin directs all the action with a spirited pace and enough intimate moments to bring contrast. Some say that if a director casts a play well, the majority of his work is done. Clearly, Pete Parkin and his cast work well together.

The two-hour play with one intermission is never dull and will give audience members much food for thought. You should plan to see this play by one of the legends of American Theatre.

Small Craft Warnings runs through August 17, 2025, at Adobe Theater, 9813 4th Street NW, Albuquerque NM. Performances are Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 7:30pm at 2:00 pm, and Sundays at 2:00pm. General Admission: $28.46, Discount Admission $24.32, Students $19.15, with fees. For tickets and information, please visit adobetheater.org.

Directed by Pete Parkin, Set and Lighting Designer – Petifoger, Scenic Designer – Linda Wilson, Sound Designer – Kirby Seis, Ricky Fox – Stage Manager, Mariah Desiree Lujan – Assistant Stage Manager. Cast: Stephanie Jones, Philip Shortell, Steven Higgins, Tim Riley, Lorri Layle Oliver, Michael Weppler, Jeffrey Siddall, Lucious James Sanchez, Charles Garcia.