Thom Pain needs a hug, and most of the audience would like to give it to him. He also needs a kick in the ass, and it seems like there’d be a lot of volunteers for that, too. For Thom Pain, as written by Will Eno and performed by Stewart Legere, is both a wounded child-man and a monumental dick. His stream of consciousness tapestry of grim childhood memories is both hilarious and heartbreaking. It explains the damaged man that stands on the stage, but doesn’t entirely excuse his cruelty and need to control the people around him. This is a play of paradoxes, and by the end of it, you’ll have been drawn in and pushed away in equal measure. Brilliant!
Bus Stop Theatre, 2203 Gottingen, Through May 10, 449-5317
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This article appears in May 7-13, 2009.