Tonight was a fine evening to go out and see a number of new, original, short plays presented at the Actors Studio of Newburyport. All under the name, "Collaboration." The evening was compiled of seven short plays, each written (and sometimes directed) by members of a local group of talented in playwrights in the Newburyport area known as, "The Weekend Writers." Each play had it's twists and turns and had fun with it's subtle comedy. Each one baring a unique twist on certain characters. Proving once again that the Actor's Studio never fails to deliver a great piece of live theater. This review will be spoiler free for all pieces.
The first play, "Pregnant Pause," written by Nadia Schmidkas, directed by Jack Rushton and staring Josh Paradis and Alexa Crawford, is about a couple, Frank and Suzie, dealing (strangely positively) with pregnancy.
The second play, "Bastille Day," written and directed by Jack Rushton and staring Sherry Bonder, is about a french woman writing on the back of old family photographs to her sister, Tildie, recounting their childhood and her relationship with her husband, Frank.
The third play, "It's Not You," written by Dina Crawford, directed by Sherry Bonder, and staring Julie McConchie and Steve Saks, is about a "couple" giving a living and humorous example of the phrase, "It's not you, it's me."
The fourth play, "Dinner Theater," written and directed by Charles Bradley and staring Scott Sullivan, Astrid Lorentzson, and Sarah Gibby, is about a playwright, Timothy, eating dinner with his wife, Tamara, in celebration to the opening of his new play, while also discussing his next play and puting the moves on his leading lady, Lilith.
The fifth play, "Generation Huck," written by Scott Sullivan, directed by Kim Holliday, and stars Alan Hulsman and Josh Paradis, is about the relationship between two different generations. Even though they may not be so different after all.
The sixth play, "Spice," written by David Susman, directed by Charles Van Eman, and staring Kari Cretella-Nickou and Sanford Farrier, is about a middle-aged married couple attempting to make a sex tape to help save their marriage, and how far they are willing to go to do so.
The seventh and final play, "Acceptance," written by Lawrence Hennessy, directed by David Houlden, and staring Kathleen Henderson and Nicole Blackwood, is about a grandmother and her granddaughter saying their emotional and powerful final farewell to each other.
This new works event comes highly recommended, not for the originality and humor but for the order in which these pieces were presented in and what the concepts are about. The true meanings of these pieces are based off of emotions and situations that may seem outrageous at first but in the end are very much human, and believable. What is more meaningful is what they chose for the first play and what was chosen to be the last play. With these two pieces opening and closing the line-up, it brings the flow of these stories full circle.
Collaboration continues this weekend at the Newburyport Actor's Studio, February 28th at 8pm and March 1st at 6pm. I recommend seeing this new creative anthology. If you are looking to watch a number of new original pieces that are funny, creative, smart, and meaningful, then spending an evening with the weekend writers is one night you will not want to miss.
