UK Theatre Network

“Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength” – August Wilson

This is not an easy play to watch, but necessary in its difficulty. The path, as they say, is never a smooth one if you are in recovery. “Bill W. and Dr. Bob” is the inspiring story of New Yorkstockbroker Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, a surgeon from Ohio, both alcoholics, who through an astonishing series of events, meet and eventually form Alcoholics Anonymous.

Bill (Robert Krakovski), a successful businessman crashes with the Stock Market. Bob (Patrick Husted) often operates on his patients with a hangover, sometimes while still intoxicated. If it wasn’t a true story, you’d still be worried for their state of mind – and this story is a true one. Many of us, perhaps, may associate with the loss of control that comes from being under the influence – at times a freedom devoutly to be wished for, and at times a freedom that scares the living daylights out of us. Free-falling can be exhilarating and terrifying when seen through different eyes. And this, I think, is true of the audience at the New World Stages. Not your average theatre audience, this crowd is made-up of a large number of recovering addicts, and it is strangely moving to be able to experience at first-hand their personal stories in association with the evocative performances on stage.

Director Rick Lombardo has created a frighteningly truthful and powerful drama which creates images that are both compelling and inspiring, while finding something primitive in each of the audience. Here is a story that inspires laughter in pain and tears of joy, while never becoming sentimental or jaded. Krakovski and Husted are fantastic as the title players, and vividly remind us of the massive ups and downs that addicts can experience, whatever their addiction. Their portrayals of the two men who pioneered the international AA movement are extremely moving and to many, inspirational. And the supporting players are also excellent. Special mention should be made of Marc Carver whose enthusiasm and honesty are unparalleled in my recent experience.

Speaking with the audience after the show, I think that they would agree with the sentiments expressed by Helen Keller when she said, "I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble." Every day is another step forward. You may take small steps, you may take great strides, but what counts is that you are moving forwards. This is a pebble, perhaps, in an ocean of spirit, but has created some sizeable ripples, and I for one have felt the force of its emotional wave.

“Bill W. and Dr. Bob” is on at the New World Stages, New York.

Tickets can be ordered online or by phone from www.telecharge.com or (212) 239-6200