Cast of Family Matters (David Hsieh) |
Family Matters
ReAct Theatre
(at 12th Avenue Arts)
Through July 28, 2018
ReAct Theatre is presenting a new play by local playwright
Rachel Atkins called Family Matters. Atkins has fashioned a tender,
stressed-out family dramedy that focuses on themes of family responsibility,
elder pitfalls, adoption, and race. It’s a pretty full pot of stew!
The story, involving four female family members and a new
boyfriend, is set on Mother’s Day and the Horowitz family elder, Nana (Walayn Sharples) gets to have an
outside celebration at her family home because it’s tradition to do it that
way. What’s new is that Nana goes in and out of remembering things, and her
daughters Pearl (Serin Ngai) and
Lena (Katie Tupper) and granddaughter
Gracie (Mika Swanson) try to figure
out how to celebrate around the forgettings and the moments of outright
dementia.