'Hostage Song' ✭✭✭

This unusual rock musical, which features haunting music and lyrics by Kyle Jarrow and a jarring book by Clay McLeod Chapman, is about prisoners. It charts the relationship of a journalist (Simone Roos) and a Pentagon contractor (Steve O'Connell) and is clearly influenced by the many stories of Americans who get taken hostage in foreign lands. "Hostage Song" is not a musical in the usual sense, given that these two actors mostly are accompanied by a rock band and occasionally use hand-held microphones to sing about their situation. Then again, a certain dislocation of form is a match for the theme. Ronan Marra's unpretentious production is staged in a black void, with little more than a band, a trunk and two captive characters writhing around on the floor. That is all the piece needs. -- Chris Jones

Through June 9 at Signal Ensemble Theatre, 1802 W. Berenice Ave.; $20 at 773-698-7389 or signalensemble.com

May 17, 2012