Can one single event really crush your life’s dream?  For Cal Arbus, the protagonist of Marc Spitz’s “Revenge and Guilt”, the dream of becoming a rock 'n' roll star was crushed by the words of his teen idol, wannabe rock legend Marvin "Major" Cohen (Tom Vaught), who 20 years ago told Cal he just didn’t have what it takes to be a rock star. Since that day, Cal (Peter Buck Dettmann) has never picked up an electric guitar; instead, he lives a mundane, prudish and unfulfilling existence.

In comes Gina Sharp. A rebellious, angry ex-convict with a shady past, Gina (played by Emily Russell) has run away from her family and now is scheming to dodge her parole officer. At first, she takes advantage of Cal’s innocence and pitiful fear of nearly everything, but she soon begins to develop a real attachment to him. On discovering how Cal’s dream got crushed, she takes it upon herself to persuade him to confront Marvin about Cal's unrealized and stolen opportunity to superstardom.

Marc Spitz is not only known as a "Downtown" playwright, but is also a well-regarded music journalist: this play feels personal, and the rich array of references to music greats shows off his expansive knowledge of rock and roll history. The presence of violence, sex, and drugs throughout the play adds tension to the stage and helps the audience to comprehend the depth of Cal's despair; that said, there are some moments that feel clunky and over-rehearsed, such as an awkward nude sex scene.

Spitz, who also directed the play, has harnessed the energy of the three actors to cover up weaknesses in the plot. A play about seeking closure, facing one’s demons, and learning to live in the moment needs to reveal a deeper understanding of the characters’ motivations. In "Revenge and Guilt", there were times when this opportunity was missed, but also times when the actors did their best to make their characters' reasoning satisfying to the audience, even if there was no deeper insight.

Dettmann's performance added a necessary sweetness and humor to Cal's character, while Vaught's portrayal of a washed-out, burned-out rocker evoked moments of real empathy for someone who was so close to ‘making it’ but never did.  The latter was particularly touching when reminiscing about the past -- when one could really connect to a band and their music.

“Revenge and Guilt” runs now until October 19 at the Kraine Theater. Check out our full event listing here: https://stagebuddy.com/listingdetail.php?lid=14587