REVIEW: Hard to take eyes off of “Cat On a Hot Tin Roof.”

An old saying suggests that there a few events in life that may be like a train wreck. That is, though the negative outcome seems certain, they still steal our utmost attention and cause curiosity slowing as we pass.

So it is with the Old Lyric Repertory Company’s production of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” Anyone acquainted with the Tennessee Williams-penned tale of family squabbles, alcoholism, greed, false love, death and pain knows that little of uplift will result. But like the train wreck, it’s hard to keep one’s eyes off of it.

A small group rubberneckers on opening weekend were treated to a top-drawer presentation of this classic adult slice of life.

First to steal the audience’s attention is Keri Larsen, who’s fifth OLRC season is definitely her strongest. The first half of Act One is almost a monologue, with Maggi (Larsen) going on and on about her one-sided understanding of all the family troubles, many of which begin with her husband Brick (Kent Hadfield) and his inability to stop drinking. Maggi admits that she never could keep her finger off a sore and she picks open many family scabs. Larsen deserves much credit for never missing a beat and carrying the attention of all during an extended opening scene presentation. As a lead at the Old Lyric, Larsen is unassuming no more.

Equally mesmerizing and even more polished is Ron Frederickson. Playing Big Daddy, the patriarch of this train wreck of a family, Frederickson carries with him the strange mixture of tension and a casual ease that never suggests he is anyone but this powerful, rich and sad father figure. Fredrickson has played this character before in the Salt Lake City area and his precision of voice, movement and motivation are captivating.

Big Mama (Maribeth Evensen-Hengge) is also an important cog in the family and the production and Evensen-Hengge also commands the audience’s attention while on stage and ends up being a sympathetic figure for which all feel pain.

Talk of death is an important part of “Cat” and is much different than the lighthearted presentation of this topic in “Arsenic and Old Lace,” also featured in this season’s Old Lyric lineup. This is a family that has for decades — by their own admission — “talked around things.” But with death knocking, troubles are ferreted out and stood up for all passersby to see, including an audience that expected to see a fender bender but ended up getting much more.

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Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Directed by Lynda Linford

Running time: 2 hourse 43 minutes. One intermission

Runs in repetory, Caine Lyric Theatre, 38 West Center, Logan, until Saturday, Aug. 6.