OCEANSIDE, California — Once again, the students of Mira Costa College and Theater School have brought us a winner. This time they explore the delightful, provocative depiction of many expressions of love. Through nine vignettes, John Cariani’s Love/Sick invites the audience into the most intimate moments between a couple, through the succession of two individuals.
We have a couple who meet and share an “obsessive impulsive disorder,” a singing telegram delivering surprising and unwanted news, a gay couple owning their feelings, a bride and groom riddled with uncertainty, a couple struggling with the decision to have children and several other relaetable, sometimes joyous at other times devastating, interactions.
As I’ve come to expect, under Eric Bishop’s direction, the actors are always credible, human and authentic. Each individual pulls his/her weight and the characters are real to us. We recognize them as ourselves, our friends, our children, our siblings, or our neighbors.
This contemporary play satirizes America’s infatuation with Costco, Sam’s Club or any number of Big Box stores. Each vignette either takes place in the store or references Super Center almost as an integral character in their romance. This underscores our consumerism and materialism in a very clever way.
This play is unique in that it does not follow a prescribed, “happily ever after” formula. Some relationships end well, others end, and some leave the viewers with an ambiguity that remains unresolved. But they are all touching and honest.
This show required impeccable timing and the actors did a fabulous job memorizing and delivering lines. In particular, Ben Sutton and Beverly Balderama did an unbelievable job reciting their lines in tandem. Sarah Dowdy and Jacob Reiss nearly made me cry. Jack Canziani and Andrew Banderas were sweet and funny. Claire Griffith and Trevor Brown sought an answer. Gabrielle Nealon and Joe Emmenegger explored the doubts we experience as couples moving to the next phase of a relationship. Mitchell Doble and Frida Villeda illustrated what happens when the initial excitement fades, but we move into a new realm. Elias Gutierrez and Millicent Reeves demonstrated the memories that create a shared history. Aamirah Syed and Cherise Camacho provided a glimpse into the hardships that face every couple who have young children and must divide up household chores and breadwinning. Finally, Skyler Beckett and Alexandra Schmidt provided us with the memory that a once-married, now divorced couple has when they re-meet later in life, under different circumstances.
Worth noting is the fact that there are two versions of the cast. This is done intentionally so that the actors get to experience and explore a greater range in their acting acumen. Bishop has the two configurations alternate performances, providing lots of opportunities for each actor to stretch his/her wings.
One of the things I love most about this theater is that as a college, the students have hands-on experience at every level. The production crew is largely comprised of the students from DRAM 210. They were responsible for the Electrics Crew, the Scene Shop Crew, and the Backstage crew, all under the direction of instructors Kelly Kissinger and Paul Canaletti.
Love/Sick is presented by a special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc, New York.
The show will run through October 13th and tickets are available by phone at 760.795.6815
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Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts She may be contacted via eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com
Being from the older generation, I appreciate and have great faith in our youth. They are not afraid to address all genres of relationships. Some critiques seem to be uncomfortable that same sex relationships are addressed. Shows how out of touch many in our society are to the realities of life. Bravo, to the younger generation, who, literally know that the world is full of rainbows. As we pass on, I believe there will be a day when all gender assignments will be respected….