At Miners Alley, the world premiere of Luke Sorge’s clever play is boosted by an inspired local cast and impressive stagecraft.

Crack open a can of National Bohemian beer and relish this world premiere comedy by Colorado playwright Luke Sorge. Several years in the making, National Bohemians is now up at Miners Alley in Golden in a production featuring a cast and creative team that simply knocks it out of the park.

Along with Sorge’s tight, clever script about a dysfunctional Maryland family battling it out during a hurricane comes a cast skillfully directed by Warren Sherrill that’s all-in creating these damaged but entertaining characters. The action is focused around three brothers who mostly despise one another and are at odds over what to do with their ailing mother, Boo Bird. When two of them learn that the other is advocating DIY euthanasia to solve the problem, it sets off a furious series of recriminations that dredge up old dirt while harvesting newer material to war over.

Miners Alley Producing Artistic Director Len Matheo breaks a decade-long hiatus from the stage to play middle brother Thom. An asshole Republican with a volcanic temper and a penchant for F-bombs, Thom is brought to vivid life in an outstanding performance that made me concerned for Matheo’s blood pressure. This mean, mustachioed version of Matheo is the polar opposite of the actor himself, and he looked like he was thoroughly enjoying the exploration of such a personality.

Steven Burge plays the youngest brother Oscar, an L.A. screenwriter who’s recently lost his show, his boyfriend and a good deal of his sanity following a suicide attempt. Sorge gives Oscar a wealth of zingers, and Burge is more than up for the challenge of delivering them with maximum comedic impact. When he washes up at the home of the eldest brother John — played with Zenmaster placidity by Tim Fishbaugh — followed soon after by Thom (ready to kill his little brother because he’d stolen his car to get to Maryland), the scene is set for a true family smackdown.

Jenna Moll Reyes and Steven J. Burge in the Miners Alley world premiere of Luke Sorge’s ‘National Bohemians.’ Photo: Sarah Roshan

Fueled by a fridge full of National Bohemians (or “Natty Bo’s” — the execrable, real-life local beer they’re all mysteriously compelled to guzzle) John is busy restoring a dinghy built by their grandfather when his two brothers descend. The coming hurricane outside the cluttered garage where all the action takes place may seem a bit on the nose, But the storm becomes like another character as it rages outside and influences the goings-on inside.

I should stop a moment and give major credit to Sound Designer John Hauser, Lighting Designer Vance McKenzie and Scenic Designer Xander Claypool for a first-rate job creating a highly realistic, constantly changing storm environment. From the thunder rumbling the theatre to the lightning flashes, rain slashing down and pounding on the roof to the windows flying open and the crackling radio monitor leading to Boo Bird’s room, it was a well-coordinated effort that really paid off.

Plot thickens

Into this mess steps John’s estranged daughter Liah (MAP regular Jenna Moll Reyes). She, too, is worried about Boo Bird, but she also appears fascinated by the raw emotion of her two uncles. Reyes is superb as the “influencer” yoga aficionado also dragging skeletons behind her. Structurally, Liah is essential to breaking up some of the repetitive bitching of the brothers, and she also delivers a good many laughs herself.

Sorge’s script is an intriguing mix of comedy, disturbing family dynamics and big questions as the characters wrestle with true life-or-death issues. There are a couple of significant surprises leading to a satisfying ending even as it leaves the audience questioning what, exactly, went down.

I appreciated Sorge resisting the urge to add much in the way of reconciliation. Sometimes that just doesn’t happen with the deep, old wounds family is capable of inflicting. The most we get is a sort of uneasy truce as the sun comes up the next day and the remaining characters ponder what’s ahead.

National Bohemians is the kind of well-crafted, satisfying comedy I feel we’ve been missing from the mix of new plays in Colorado of late. While it delves into some dark subjects, it never takes its eye off the comedic aspect of the story while also resonating with anyone who’s tried and failed to reconcile with family members. For anyone wanting to celebrate new Colorado theatre, this is one not to miss.