Eat Your Heart Out
Through April 1 at the Actors Theatre of Louisville Humana Festival.
Written by Courtney Baron. Directed by Adam Greenfield.
This is the sort of “new play” which may not break any fresh ground but which impresses with its surehandedness, its wondrous pacing and timing, and its ever-popping dialogue.
It’s a play theaters would want to produce because it’s engaging, entertaining and has great roles for a wide range of actors. The cast covers two generations, a couple of social strata, and (in a pivotal dramatic moment) a dress size.
It’s a snapshot of the interlocking events of three separate couples in Pasadena, culminating in one big night. Nance (Kate Eastwood Norris, who telegraphs stressed-out modern woman with her every sigh) and Tom (Alex Moggridge, a reliable everyman whom Connecticut theatergoers know for his recent turns in the Jimmy Stewart role in It’s a Wonderful Life at Long Wharf and brother Andrei in Sarah Ruhl’s version of Chekhov’s Three Sisters at Yale Rep) are on a blind date. Nance has just come from work, interviewing a couple (tightly-wound, immaculately dressed Kate Arrington and Mike DiSalvo) about their desire to adopt a child. Nance’s daughter Evie (Sarah Grodsky), meanwhile, is preparing for a night out on the town with her platonic BFF Colin (Jordan Brodess), who’s pining for his girlfriend back in New Hampshire. The encounters veer from the archly comic to the crass and pitiable.
It’s a juggling act, all right, but the real trick is that the scenes intersect so neatly and tightly yet don’t exclude the audience. The play constantly reenergizes itself, not just with its contrasting scenes and contradictory feelings, but with some smart design choices by scenic designer Tom Tutino and costume designer Connie Furr-Soloman.
The structure, tone and melodramatic qualities of Courtney Baron’s well-crafted yet admirably open-ended script are reminiscent of Alan Ayckbourn, a high compliment since he’s the master of the intersecting multi-relationship comedy/drama. Baron keeps all six characters realistic but master the tougher past as well—an even tone for the entire play regardless of who’s going off the rails at any given time.
That’s because there’s a higher purpose than wacky situations here. Eat Your Heart Out is about how we want ourselves to be seen, how we lie to others by lying to ourselves. Everyone in this show backtracks, parses the sentences they’ve just spoken, clarifies to the point of embarrassment, then ultimately speaks his or her mind.
It’s a great show of truth and beauty and honest emotion, wrapped up in familiar, comfortable comedy situations. Not new, as I say, but extremely welcome.
Ultimately, an issue that I am passionate about. I ave looked for details of this caliber for that very last numerous hrs. Your website is significantly appreciated.
wonderful post, very informative. I wonder why the other specialists of this sector don at realize this. You must proceed your writing. I am sure, you ave a great readers a base already!