'Gruesome Playground Injuries' brings dark comedy to Rochester stage

Staff Reports, Beaver County TimesThu, May 7, 2026 at 9:12 AM UTC

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R-ACT Theatre Productions will present "Gruesome Playground Injuries," a dark comedy by Rajiv Joseph, May 8-10 in Rochester.

The play, directed by Hannah Dearborn, will be staged at the Segriff Stage, 134 Brighton Ave, Rochester, at 7:30 p.m. May 8 and 9, with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. May 10. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.

The cast includes Chris Duvall as Doug and Chelsea Kikel as Kayleen. Understudies Brian Shumaker and Amanda Orr also serve as assistant director and stage manager, respectively, with Max Boffo handling lights and sound design.

Chelsea Kikel as Kayleen and Chris Duvall as Doug in R-ACT Theatre's production of "Gruesome Playground Injuries."

"Gruesome Playground Injuries" follows the relationship between Kayleen and Doug over the course of 30 years.

The lives of these two characters intersect at the most bizarre intervals, leading the two childhood friends to compare scars and the physical calamities that keep drawing them together. The two friends and would-be lovers met at 8 years old in the nurse’s office of their elementary school. As they grow up, they continue to come back to each other, brought together by injury, heartbreak, and their own self-destructive tendencies. Audience members should be aware that the production includes profanity, ableist language and references to past abuse.

“I have always been drawn to stories that play with time,” said Dearborn. She noted the story unfolds out of chronological order, instead moving back and forth through time. A timeline of scenes will be included in the program, outlining the year and the characters’ ages to help orient the audience throughout the play.

Playwright Joseph describes the play “like a prism of memory, that is disjointed and connected through something that is not necessarily time, but emotion and sensation and pain.”

“This is one of the best plays I’ve ever read,” said Duvall. “Every page is hilarious and heartbreaking, something almost impossible to do.”

Duvall describes his character as impulsive and physically daring, noting that beneath that exterior is someone capable of deep care and resilience. “This is such a beautiful, funny, excruciating play. It’s impossible to experience and not be touched by it.”

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Kikel previously performed the role in college and now returns to the character years later with a new perspective. “I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity to play a female role with so much depth and strength. It’s a beautiful challenge as an actor to be able to create a character through multiple facets of her life, portraying the range of this human being as she grows up and handles the difficulties she has to face.”

While only two actors appear onstage, a team of six is responsible for bringing the production to life. Duvall noted that “it’s a duo on the stage, but it’s a sextet that makes this show really sing,” crediting the full team for their creativity and attention to detail.

Duval also praised his scene partner, saying, “I could not do this without Chelsea. She is so talented and smart.” Dearborn echoed that sentiment, calling the group “an intelligent and highly collaborative cast and production team” and adding, “I do not say it lightly when I call this the dream team.”

The production makes great use of the Segriff Stage, an intimate 50-seat black box theater, embracing a minimalist approach to staging. The set is undressed, containing only a black curtain, while limited props and set pieces are brought onstage for each scene. The actors never leave the stage, performing all scene changes themselves, with costume and makeup changes occurring onstage. Dearborn describes these transitions as “a unique part of the story that helps you feel the passage of time along with our characters.” The simplicity of the staging allows the focus to remain on the evolving relationship between Doug and Kayleen.

"Gruesome Playground Injuries" invites audiences into an intimate exploration of the marks people leave on one another.

“At its core, this is a story about the friendships that transcend time – the people who know us best and bring us back to life no matter how long it’s been,” said Dearborn.

Kikel added that the play “shines a light on the human condition in an unconventional way.”

Tickets are priced at $15 plus fees and must be secured online at https://events.leapevents.com/event/ract-gruesome-playground-injuries-2026. For more information visit https://www.ractproductions.com or email inquiries to ractproductions@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Come see 'Gruesome Playground Injuries" at R-ACT Theatre

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