It’s not easy being Joseph LeVay.

It seems everyone he meets has a bone to pick with him.

Dr LeVay is the lead character in Lydia Diamond’s play, Stick Fly, on now at Daylesford Theatre.

The Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society production is a fantastic, razor-sharp look at race, class and family secrets.

The play is set at the wealthy LeVay’s weekend home on Martha’s Vineyard. Cue Dr LeVay, a black neurologist, his sons Flip and Kent and their girlfriends Taylor and Kimber, and Cheryl, the maid’s daughter.

The LeVay family closets are packed with skeletons, and there are mysteries to be solved. Where is Mrs LeVay? Why won’t Dr LeVay take her calls? Why is Cheryl in such a bad mood? What’s going on between Taylor and Flip? What’s going on between Flip and Cheryl?

The play is largely about relationships. Ms Diamond, who is black, wrote it as she explored her relationships with white women, and her relationship with her father.

Everyone involved, except possibly Dr LeVay, has father issues. Whether it’s justified is to be determined but everyone focuses their angst on him, Cheryl in particular. Did anyone pack a DNA test?

Kimber, who is white, has a tough time with Taylor, who is black in this play which is supposed to be a comedy, but it’s an acid kind of funny.

Stick Fly will appeal to people who like a lot of brain stimulation. The LeVays play Trivial Pursuit the way some people arm wrestle. Quick question: who was the name of the Russian physiologist who went to the dogs? First name and last name, please. (See the answer below)*

Ms Diamond is a master at building tension. There are lots of funny one-liners to act as vents, but when the play reached its crescendo there were some suspicious sniffles in the audience. Trigger warning: if you have issues with your father, this play is going to push those buttons.

The acting was first rate. Hamilton Town Crier Edward Christopher was very convincing as Dr LeVay and put his booming voice to great use during the play’s tumultuous climax. Adrian Kawaley-Lathan, Che Barker, Paige Steinlet also did great jobs, but the standout was Kathelin Lembert. The latter is a newcomer to Bermuda. As the angst-ridden Taylor, she almost stole the show. Kudos also goes to 16-year-old India Wilson who played Cheryl. She was the youngest cast member and did a fabulous job.

As an aside, Nancy Thompson’s set clearly took a lot of work and creativity. It included a countertop painted to look like granite, a chandelier made with bottles and a games table. The chandelier and table are going to be auctioned off when Stick Fly closes.

The play has proved so popular that additional showings have been added. It’s the sort of production that’s worth seeing multiple times, as there are so many different nuances to it.

Stick Fly continues at 8pm tomorrow at Daylesford and runs through Saturday. Tickets, $30, are available from ptix.bm. For more information see www.bmds.bm.

*Ivan Pavlov