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| Much Better (photo Zoe Burchard) |
Much Better
Really-Really Theatre Group
(at 12th Avenue Arts)
Through September 2, 2017
Is it better to feel too much or too little? If you are
tormented by your feelings and if you pour your feelings all over your life and
if people are exhausted by your feelings and want to avoid too much time with
you, is the answer to get your feelings surgically lessened?
This is the essential question in a science fiction play by
Elisabeth Frankel, now being presented by new theater company, Really-Really
Theatre Group. Much Better debates
Ashley’s dilemma as a hyper-empath. Ashley not only feels her own feelings, she
feels other people’s too!
But there is a solution, she finds. A technology called “Neuroclear”
will lower her ability to feel, and perhaps bring her a measure of relief. It’s
pretty clear, though, that it’s permanent, and like all technologies, there
could be unintended consequences.
Frankel’s new play was a semi-finalist for the 2017 O’Neill
National Playwrights Conference and since this work may still be in-progress,
this might best be termed a “developmental production,” as opposed to a world
premiere. Still, it’s brand new. Her play is a solidly presented one, with a
clear premise and well-thought-out sequences. That’s something not always
embedded in new work. So, that’s a definite plus.
The cast is also a solid group, beginning with Ashley as
played by Alysha Curry. Curry has to
begin as a hyper-empath and also a kind of overly-bubbly word-froth of a
personality, dumping everything that she feels on people around her to
eventually becoming calmer and calmer and more and more removed. Curry manages
this transition beautifully, and in a managed progression that works to
perfectly step through all the phases.
Cleanly directed by Henry
Nettleton, the supporting cast include a best-work-friend played by Ali Lawrence, a best-high-school-friend
played by Nick Ferrucci, a potential
date, played by Garrison Whaley-Sharp,
and the doctor from Neuroclear, played by Lamar
Legend. Each of them has realistic moments of interaction with Ashley that
ring true-to-life.
The best-friend deals with a friend who is a lot to deal
with, but whom she admires for being able to express herself, and then loses to
the lack of emotion. The doctor tries to help her understand the consequences,
but is caught in the success his technology brought to his own life.
A cool lighting design that looks a bit futuristic, is
provided by Aaron Tacy and lots of
interesting sound effects are provided by Charlie
Spears.
The play is about 80 minutes and ends ambiguously, which is
not a negative. After all, the question – “is too much emotion a good or bad
thing?” – is essentially almost unanswerable. The play makes us contemplate if
emotion is really what sets us apart from all the other animal species. Sure,
animals have feelings! We know dogs and cats can be happy or excited or angry.
But the nuances of thought and speech also mean that human emotion might be
significantly more varied and intense than other animals.
While you’re not likely to leave the show feeling happy, you
may well feel contemplative and thoughtful. Sounds like a pretty good night of
theater to me…
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