Lesheim's liquid performances as the leggy landlady in Loring Playhouse's Killers and the boozing, fading movie star in Red Eye's MAMBO 55 were crucial to the credibility of both of these heavily stylized stage noirs. She melts into her roles and the productions melt with her as she creates fresh and wholly theatrical worlds. Lesheim's gift is the ability to lend humanity to deliberate stereotypes while still heightening the absurdity of these worlds (and getting us to laugh at the languid desolation of her characters). No small feat, this. Lesheim's captivating presence, combined with her ability to negotiate both substance and style, raises the bar for every actor (and audience member) in town.