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Regional Reviews: Washington, D.C. The Comeuppance
The play, which runs more than two hours without intermission, follows a group of high school friends as they gather before their 20-year reunion. The play not only examines how they have changed and the social upheaval they have experienced (including the Columbine school shootings and the 9/11 attacks), it also operates on a metaphysical level that is better left to the audience to experience. The deceptively simple set is the yard of the home where Ursula (Alana Raquel Bowers) grew up, raised by her grandmother. While Jian Jung's scenic design may seem austere, consisting mostly of a porch with outdoor furniture and a translucent black curtain, Minjoo Kim's lighting design and Jordan McCree's sound design provide some surprises. Joining Ursula at the private pre-reunion party are Emilio (Jordan Bellow), an esteemed artist who now lives in Germany; tightly wrapped Katelyn (Sarah Gliko), who hopes that not mentioning her problems will make them invisible even to her; Kristina (Taysha Marie Canales), an Army doctor with a large family; and, surprisingly, Kristina's friend Francisco (Jaime Maseda), who was not part of their insular high school clique. (At the time they dubbed themselves the Multi-Ethnic Reject Group, or MERGE.) Each performer gets a chance to stand out as the time passes and the darkness seems to gather, but Bellows and Bowers get a through-line that allows them to give the most compelling portrayals. Costume designer Kitt Crescenzo nails the characters' personalities, from Bellow's "artsy" black ensemble and Gliko's pleated dress and ankle boots to Bowers' vivid cardigan. The humor is both uncomfortable and, often, very funny. As created by Jacobs-Jenkins and ably staged by director Morgan Green, the audience gains perspective about these people: they make assumptions about the others and are seemingly incapable of seeing the truth. Woolly Mammoth staged this production in association with the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia, which will present it later this year. The Comeuppance runs through October 6, 2024, at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D St. NW, Washington DC. For tickets and information, please call 202-393-3939 or visit www.woollymammoth.net. By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Emilio: Jordan Bellow |
