By Liz Eichler
Theatre history buffs, Rory Sheridan fans, enthusiasts of absurdism, and anyone paying attention to our current political moment will find The Pyromaniacs at One Off Productions both unsettling and darkly entertaining.
Background
Written in the aftermath of World War II, Max Frisch’s play—also known as Biedermann and the Firebugs or The Arsonists—wrestles with a question that still burns: how do ordinary people enable catastrophe? Framed as an absurdist farce, the play offers no easy answers, only the creeping recognition that complacency and denial can be as dangerous as the threat itself. That tension feels especially familiar today.
Director Rupert Spraul leans into the play’s contradictions, staging a production that is both playful and ominous. This translation, by Alistair Beaton, is set in present day. It opens with the sound of static, fragments of familiar quotations, underscored by musical references to “fire.” This effective soundtrack carries through scene transitions, underlining a world that feels like it is uncomfortably repeating itself.
The Plot
At the center is Biedermann, a self-satisfied businessman who prides himself on being too savvy to fall for the very danger he invites into his home. Wesley Carman plays him as a slick, modern dealmaker. A 30-something with phone in hand, confidence unwavering—making his eventual unraveling all the more pointed. Wesley Carman’s Biedermann is well crafted, giving a triple threat performance that leaves no crumbs. I hope we see more of this talented performer.
Must-See Performances
As the intruders, former wrestler Schmitz and fresh-out-of-prison Eisenring, Rory Sheridan and R. Graham Rogers are a volatile, darkly comic duo. Sheridan’s Schmitz is explosive and unpredictable, a performance that feels constantly on the verge of spinning (or pile driving) out of control–and 100% worth the ticket price. Rogers’ Eisenring is intimidating, conniving and…slippery…yet is also quite candid. He is a memorably despicable character, counterbalancing Sheridan’s rabid wild-man. Together, they embody the absurd logic of the play: the threat is obvious, named, even acknowledged—and still allowed to flourish.
Ellyn Broderick’s Babette begins as a figure of society and surface concerns but sharpens in the second act as doubt creeps in. Katie Scarlett brings a nervous energy to Anna, the maid, grounding the production with a physical sense of unease.
Terry Gosdin’s Doctor of Philosophy adds a layer of bureaucratic absurdity. This character embodies the kind of intellectual distancing that allows disaster to be explained away rather than prevented. Kevin Crowley, as the Lead Firefighter, provides a steady, knowing presence, guiding a chorus (Dan Spraul and Holly Spraul, in addition to the other cast members) that frames the action, “All hail the firefighters.” Add to the irony, they do not act to prevent, only swoop in as heroes putting out the fires.
Passionate Production Team
The production’s design leans into its constraints with creativity. The two-level playing space at Gabriel’s Corner is used effectively, with lighting (Jared Earland) carving out distinct spaces while hinting at the city beyond. The carefully curated soundtrack and prop-heavy staging is managed with precision. Stage manager Hannah Gregory (also OOPs co-founder), with assistant Jordan Jiries, keeps the action fluid and immersive. Even the ambient sirens from outside bleed seamlessly into the world of the play. It is an accidental but fitting reminder–the danger Frisch wrote about is never entirely contained.
There’s nothing lavish about this production, and that’s part of its appeal. It has the feel of a scrappy, committed ensemble tackling big ideas with urgency and imagination. Spraul keeps the pacing tight and the tone balanced between farce and foreboding. He trusts the material—and the audience—to make the connections.
In a moment when the question “How could we let this happen?” burns daily, The Pyromaniacs lands with unsettling clarity. It’s messy, passionate, and pointed—and a lesson well worth seeing.
Ticket Link for The Pyromaniacs
One Off Productions presents The Pyromaniacs at Gabriel’s Corner, 1425 Sycamore St., Cincinnati, OH 45202 through April 4. Get tickets HERE. (Be sure to scroll for the date you want to attend.)
