Florida Studio Theatre presents acclaimed one-man drama

When “The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey” hit New York a couple years ago, it drew a glowing review from Charles Isherwood, the erstwhile and notoriously demanding critic from the New York Times. Isherwood called the show “superlative,” “remarkable” and “moving.”

Now that show is coming to Sarasota, in a new production at Florida Studio Theatre.

James Lecesne, who won the Academy Award for Best Live-Action Short Film for his 1995 work “Trevor,” wrote “Absolute Brightness” and originally performed it. The story centers around the disappearance of the flamboyant 14-year-old title character. It’s performed by one person who plays the small-town New Jersey detective who unravels the mystery and several other characters along the way.

It sounds as though it could be harsh or lugubrious, but Isherwood and other critics have noted that the show is humorous and even heartwarming.

The FST production is performed by Jeffrey Plunkett. He’s a veteran of such FST productions as “Race,” “The Columnist,” “Freud’s Last Session” and “The Exonerated.” FST associate director Kate Alexander is the director. She most recently directed Plunkett in “The Exonerated.”

Details: July 5-Aug. 6, Keating Theatre at Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave, Sarasota. 8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, $25-$39. 941-366-9000, floridastudiotheatre.org.

This story was originally published June 30, 2017 at 5:39 PM with the headline "Florida Studio Theatre presents acclaimed one-man drama."