By John Soltes / Editor in Chief

NEW YORK (June 29, 2010) — Tucked away down a nondescript hallway on the fifth floor of an apartment building in midtown Manhattan is a little secret that I'm going to let you in on. There, behind a door that simply reads 5A and Stage Left Studio, is a theatrical gem overflowing with human emotion and vivid storytelling.

Enter the world of Juliette Jeffers and the tragic, yet uplifting, story of her brother, Lloyd.

"Batman and Robin in the Boogie Down" may seem like a strange title for a 90-minute monologue play about the bond between two siblings, but don't let the mention of the caped crusader and his sidekick turn you away. This is no comic book adaptation; there are no fancy special effects. This is compelling testimony, a living photo album of a family brought together by love and loss.

Jeffers plays a host of characters, most notably herself (her original name is Carol-Ann) and her brother. The first act is the emotional ebb and flow of Carol-Ann trying to speak to Lloyd, whose untimely death at the age of 33 shook her to the core. The second act, following a brief intermission, is Lloyd addressing his sister and filling in the blanks of his life.

The proceedings strike an immediate sentimental tone of family nostalgia. These are two siblings who love to live beyond their boundaries. Carol-Annn and Lloyd are different in age, but have an unquestionable bond of love. Their childhood and adolescent years in the Bronx are highlighted by scenes of humor, hubris and horror. Whether it was the difficulty of abuse or the joy of recognizing the opposite sex, Jeffers brings to life her shared childhood with a creativity that abounds in great measure. Using a suitcase full of props, the actress is able to take the audience with her to family parties, a club where her brother was the DJ, encounters with her grandmother and the childhood game of Batman and Robin that she would play with Lloyd.

Putting on masks and devising death-defying schemes offer the audience a window into the mind of these children. But the games of Carol-Ann and Lloyd speak for something more crucial. They are transporting themselves away from their surroundings. They are entering their own world of fantasy. Carol-Ann and her older brother travel miles all on the small stage of this makeshift theater.

The second act deals with almost the same scenarios as the first, but instead of hearing Carol-Ann address her deceased brother, the tables are turned. Lloyd comes back in spirit form to talk with his sister. He tells the same loving stories of childhood energy and fantasy escapism. As he talks, it is always with a reassuring gait. He knows his sister is troubled by his death. The two eventually lived a country apart (Carol-Ann moved to Los Angeles and became Juliette Jeffers, actress and model), but their attachment never wavered.

The connection between Carol-Ann and Lloyd is palpable. Jeffers seemingly runs a marathon when she tells this story. The words and movements are all precise: she is resurrecting her family, trying to look closer by breathing life into the people that she has always held dear. The performance is impeccable; she knows these characters through and through, yet there is still exploration on display.

When the actress relives each chapter heading of her life, including Lloyd's death, she is not imitating or playing make-believe like when she was a child. She is atoning; she is understanding; she is continuing to love her brother and thankfully wiling to share him with the precious few who make their way down a corridor on the fifth floor of an apartment building in midtown Manhattan.

Behind the small door of the Stage Left Studio is an abundance of soul-searching that will stir any theatergoer for days to come.

"Batman and Robin in the Boogie Down" is currently playing Stage Left Studio at 438 W. 37th St. #5A. Visit www.BrownPaperTickets.com or www.StageLeftStudio.net for more information.