I caught “The Deer House” at BAM last night and presto — here’s the review! I went in full of great expectations as I had absolutely adored director Jan Lauwers’ previous show in NY, “Isabella’s Room.” In the six years since, “Isabella’s Room” has turned into the first part of a trilogy, “Sad Face/Happy Face,” that also includes “The Lobster Shop” and “The Deer House.” The middle installment hasn’t made it to NY but I don’t think its absence makes any difference to understanding “The Deer House.”

The thing I like best about Lauwers is the way he can strike on a purely visceral level. You don’t have to understand what he is about to feel the impact. That was evident in his nutty take on “King Lear,” which came to BAM in 2001. I couldn’t tell what was going on, but I was mesmerized. At the same time, flocks of audience members ran for the hills, many of them making sure their seats were banging back up loudly as a sign of protest.

Except for a few scenes, “The Deer House” lacks this elemental force, while also lacking the narrative drive that sustained “Isabella’s Room.” There’s way too much dialogue, something that’s definitely not Lauwers’ strength (he writes and directs). Not to mention that some of the cast members are trained as dancers and don’t do so well with that bit anyway.

And still, I’m looking forward to Lauwers’ return. He’s the rare artist whose failures stick in your mind more than others’ successes.