A shot in the ‘Darko’

ART's ‘Donnie’ is stellar sci-fi theater

REVIEW. “Donnie Darko” is a peculiar little tale that might just challenge the conventional tastebuds of traditional theatergoers with its sci-fi bent and illusory nature. But, if you’re OK with talk of time travel, if you’ve ever wanted to explore the bigger cosmic picture or if you’re simply a fan of theater that you might have to think about long after the houselights come up, then attending the American Repertory Theatre’s stellar production of this oddball 2001 film should be at the top of your to do list.

Donnie is a teen who is lured out of his suburban home one October evening in 1988 by Frank, a giant bunny who informs him that the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds.

When the sleepwalking teen awakens on a golf course, he learns that a jet engine had fallen out of a plane (or so the story goes) and landed in his bedroom. This near-death experience sends the medicated and allegedly schizophrenic teen into a race with time to save the world from obliteration.

Dan McCabe nicely captures the frenetic youthful confusion of Donnie while playing the troubled secret life of the teen with maturity and confidence that belie his age.

Paula Langton is perfect as his boozy mother, and Karen MacDonald doesn’t miss a trick as his frighteningly moral, bumbling sidekick/ teacher, Kitty Farmer. But it’s Thomas Derrah’s turn as dirtball Jim Cunningham that’ll make you cringe with delight.

Marcus Stern’s direction of the 80-minute piece is crisp and impeccable. The only challenge with this “Donnie Darko” is that it’s literally dark, so you should try to sit close enough to the stage to see the faces of the people living their suburban dream.

“Donnie Darko”
Through Nov. 18
ART Zero Arrow Theatre
2 Arrow Street, Cambridge
MBTA: Red Line to Harvard
$25 to $52, 617-547-8300
www.amrep.org