By Michael Toscano
Special to The Washington Post
Thursday, June 12, 2008; VA06

Diffused focus can strip dramatic statements of some of their impact. That's the case with Port City Playhouse's production of "Split Second," Dennis McIntyre's gritty drama of racism's corrosive legacy. Exploring the aftermath of an instantaneous and deadly action by a New York police officer, the play seemed incisive and provocative when it debuted almost a quarter-century ago. But as staged here, the message appears blunted.

Walking a late-night beat in 1984, African American policeman Val Johnson (Christopher C. Holbert) apprehends a white thief, a glib and sleazy loser named William Willis (Jackson Dismukes). Enjoying an overblown sense of his personal charm, Willis initially tries to bargain his way out of custody. When that fails, he resorts to ugly, racist taunts and ends up dead, shot by Johnson while handcuffed. Johnson covers up details of the shooting and seems poised to avoid any penalty until he begins wrestling with his conscience. It is unclear in this version, however, whether Johnson is agonizing over the shooting or just the cover-up, rendering questions and answers unexpectedly murky.

Part of the problem is the ambivalent approach by director Ed Bishop, whose uncertain hand blurs several key moments. The policeman tells family and friends the shooting was an accident. But the way Bishop has staged the fatal moment, the viewer cannot be sure it wasn't deliberate. Therefore, important issues are smudged, such as whether centuries of racism excuse the murder of a racist. All that's left is whether justice is really served if the cop, an otherwise upstanding citizen, turns himself in. That erasure of the racial aspect, and the focus on moral relativism rather than justice or responsibility, makes the tale much less compelling.

Additionally, under Bishop's guidance, Dismukes gives us a thief whose motives are unclear. Does Willis switch from friendly overtures to a barrage of epithets because he is truly racist, or does he employ the ugly words as a psychological weapon? Does it matter? With Dismukes making a point of showcasing the creep's belief in his ability to use language to achieve his goals, the answer is difficult to discern.

Bishop's pacing is uneven. Some of that might be intentional to keep the audience off balance, but some of it seems like lost opportunities. For instance, the opening scene between cop and perp sizzles with tension and energy. But that's followed by a long, enervated scene between Johnson and his boss, Captain Parker (Franklin Walker). Part of the problem might be that McIntyre wrote Parker as an African American, and Walker is white, which weakens the conversation's subtext.

Later scenes, particularly in Act 2, have a more natural, dynamic flow. Moments between Johnson and his wife, Alea, are powerful, thanks to Amy Miharu Hard's combustible performance. She vividly plays Alea as tough and cynical, but a woman who's determined to hold on to her husband. Also quite effective is Donnell Boykin as Johnson's father, Rusty, a retired cop. Boykin and Holbert play their scenes with appropriate emotional stiffness, their relationship strained by differing generational attitudes toward the role of a black man in America, circa 1984. Boykin carefully balances the demeanor of a tough old cop holding on to his own strict moral code with fatherly warmth. Holbert faces a tough challenge finding the truth in all the ambivalent messaging, at least until the end, but he creates an empathetic bond with the audience.

The action plays out primarily against stark, black curtains with flat, unimaginative lighting. The only ambiance comes from Keith Bell's evocative city soundtrack, capturing the sense of Gotham. The focus is fully on the actors, who generally hold our interest as we wonder what the flawed policeman will do. That might not be all that McIntyre intended, but it's something.

"Split Second" continues through June 21, performed by Port City Playhouse at the Lee Center for the Performing Arts, 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria. Showtime Fridays and Saturdays, and Tuesday, June 17, is 8 p.m. For information and reservations, call 703-838-2880 or visithttp://www.portcityplayhouse.com.