By Eva Trieger
SAN DIEGO –Scripps Ranch Theatre has unleashed a lovely tale of loneliness and the power of connection. Chapatti, written by Christian O’Reilly, exposes the interior lives of Dan (Robert May) and Betty (Grace Delaney).
These present-day Dubliners meet at the veterinarian’s office, where Dan has brought his dog, Chapatti, and Betty has brought her nineteen kittens. While it is their furry friends that have precipitated this chance encounter, no felines or canines are on stage throughout the 100-minute performance.
Dan grieves the loss of Martha, the woman with whom he’s had a long-term relationship. His feelings of incompleteness and purposelessness are not eased by his daily visits to her grave. Betty is a trained nurse in the employ of Peggy, the persnickety woman whose only joys are her cat, Prudence, and hurling snide insults towards Betty. Only through Betty’s cajoling about the cat’s needs, will her mistress rise from bed each day.
The dialogue is honest and self-reflective. Dan’s hopelessness has him questioning the value of life without another’s recognition or memory. For Betty, after a loveless marriage, the middle-aged woman wants to be loved and valued. Both characters know the love and companionship of their respective dog and cats, but each longs for a human’s affection to give them validation and meaning.
While the play can not be considered a comedy, there are funny moments, lines and facial expressions. Under the direction of Christopher Williams, the two characters have wholly authentic exchanges and dialogue. O’Reilly wrote the lines so that Dan and Betty are often speaking an inner dialogue aloud. The lines are very well written and the pacing is quick. Not so quick that the audience can’t keep up, but the story moves along at a good clip.
Grace Delaney, a Dublin native is an accomplished actor, assistant director, dialect coach and dramaturg. She has performed widely in San Diego, Los Angeles and Ireland. The actor has been in The Ferryman, Dancing at Lughnasa and The Shadow Box. Her expressive face and youthful energy provide the perfect combination for the character of Betty, wise and sensitive with a capacity for humor and humanity.
Robert May, award winning director, sound designer, woodworker and actor has worked all over the country. His roles run the gamut from Shakespeare’s Petruchio to William’s Stanley Kowalski. May’s mastery of Dan, a complex character facing dark choices, was tender and authentic. His physical presence revealed the gravity of the character’s resignation and sadness.
Director Williams has really done himself proud with this show. The multi-talented Williams is not only an actor, director, producer and stage manager but he has produced a feature film Walking with the Enemy, starring Sir Ben Kingsley and Jonas Armstrong. Judging from the audience’s enthusiastic applause, I’d say Chapatti is the cat’s pajamas!
Chapatti will run through February 25th. Tickets may be purchased at scrippsranchtheatre.org or via phone at 858.395.0573
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Eva Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com