There's no way off the road known as Camino Real

A young American Everyman, fallen on hard times, wanders into a strange, drought-stricken, small Latin American town with no name, in a country with no name, and finds himself in a nightmarish situation with no apparent way out. So begins the Target Margin Theater's well-acted version of Tennessee Williams' 1946 one-act play "Ten Blocks on the Camino Real," a precursor to the full-length version that was titled "Camino Real." Directed by David Herskovits in the unwieldy Ohio Theatre space, this sparse production (which runs through Jan. 31) contains 10 surreal scenes encompassing violence, death, poetry, humor, desire, remorse and blunt truths that resonate six decades after Williams wrote them. Former boxing champion Kilroy (Satya Bhabha) tries to stay on his feet and keep his sense of humor as he encounters various unfriendly inhabitants and surreal situations on the town's main street, the "KAM-in-oh REEL." Williams emphasized the Anglicized pronunciation to reflect America's ignorance about other cultures. Wearing the golden gloves and enormous jeweled belt from Kilroy's glory days, Bhabha poignantly conveys streetwise charm combined with wonder and gradual resignation at his predicament. "This deal is rugged," Kilroy often exclaims, as townsfolk prey upon him while he wanders along the main street and bizarre "street cleaners" unceremoniously haul away frequently appearing dead bodies. Local law enforcement seems hostile and unhelpful, adding to the undercurrent of menace. Although it's clear on this unreal Camino Real that life can be unfair, harsh and all too short, Kilroy maintains his enthusiasm and his defiant rallying cry of "Ha-ha!" Cast members Curt Hostetteter, McKenna Kerrigan and Raphael Nash Thompson all lend depth and authenticity to a series of improbable characters and scenes. Purva Bedi is charming as a professional gypsy "virgin." Dara Seitzman as a strolling guitar player adds a light tone to the proceedings, as do Asta Bennie Hostetter's often colorful costumes and Lenore Doxsee's creative scenery and lighting. As an American symbol, Kilroy and his uneven journey have currency today: once on top of the world, now beleaguered, trying to figure out his place in an often unfriendly environment. "El camino real" is Spanish for "the royal road" or "the king's highway," but in Williams' ironic usage, it appears to signify the end of the line. Yet with still typical American ingenuity, Kilroy just might be the guy to find a way out.