On April 7, “By the Bog Of Cats” opened in the Happy State Bank Studio Theatre. An Irish tragedy written by Marina Carr, “Bog” takes a different turn from the WT theatre’s last big production, “The Secret Garden”.

The story is a love struggle between Hester Swane, played by Bailey Lawrence, and Carthage Kilbride, played by Lane Bridges. A formerly married couple, Swane and Kilbride are engaged in a bitter dispute prior to Kilbride’s second marriage. Many of their loved ones attempt to interfere with varying degrees of consequence.

The set design of “Bog” is gorgeous and perfectly conveys the desolation and emptiness that many of the characters feel within the play. The entrance into the studio theater is decorated in such a way that audience members are taken into the story upon arrival. Cast members sometimes enter and exit through the same tunnel, which creates an interesting effect. The studio theater is smaller than the Branding Iron Theatre, where most productions take place. However, the smaller space creates a more intimate setting and the audience can feel the emotions from the cast.

The sound and music is minimal, but the audience hardly noticed because cast members are so convincing in their roles. Lawrence stole the show as the female lead. She shined in every aspect, from the painful interactions with Bridges to her happier moments with her daughter Josie, played by Abby Boyd. The entire “Bog” cast is probably one of the best casts assembled by the theatre department this season.

As fantastic as the overall direction for “Bog” is, the story began to drag in the middle of the second half. Also, the only negative side effect of the intimate setting in the studio theater was the inability to see certain parts of the show due to spacing issues.

However, these are small complaints in comparison to the bigger picture. “By the Bog of Cats” takes the audience on an emotional rollercoaster and the heart-wrenching ending will leave you emotionally drained by the time you leave the theatre. Director Stephen Crandall did a fantastic job in assembling the cast and crew to create a highly compelling performance.

“By the Bog Of Cats” will be showing at 7:30 p.m. on April 13-16 at the Happy State Bank Studio Theatre in the Fine Arts Complex.