The Blonde, The Brunette and The Vengeful Redhead - September 11, 2009

Why am I writing about a play I saw back in September at the Performance Network Theater in Ann Arbor? Because I had already written a demi-review for it and because I'm going to see another play this Thursday at the same theater and will also review that one.

After a short summer lull during which the staff was engaged with renovations including freshening up the paint, this production was the season opener for this theater. For those who have never been to the Performance Network, it's worth at least one trip. The theater only has 139 seats so there is a very cozy air about it. However, there is no skimping on set design, quality of performance, sound engineering, etc.

The storyline of this play was rather unimpressive as I did not find it especially original. It was a variation on a theme that has been examined in other venues. The premise is about the intersection of lives and situations that may seem very far-fetched at first glance but are actually very closely interconnected. The movies Babel and Crash are also variations on this theme but with much more interesting and profound stories.

However, it was well worth seeing for at least two reasons. The first is that the writing is so good. The dialogue is a series of monologues which are resoundingly authentic for each character ranging from a 4-1/2 year old boy to a rather elderly woman.

The second reason is the actress' performance. Suzi Regan, who portrayed all seven characters, was simply phenomenal! With what seemed minimal effort, she transformed from one character to the next thoroughly. The audience did not have to struggle with evaluating whether or not the transformation was convincing or complete, and therefore was free just to absorb the character currently in front of them. Especially entertaining was her depiction of the husband.

Another reason to attend is take note of the the set design which always has to be minimalist due to space considerations but is done very artfully. I also found the lighting for this show to be particularly clever as well. It was used quite effectively when Ms. Regan was transitioning from one character to the next as well as to represent settings such as prison bars.