Reviewed by Tracey Paleo, Gia On The Move
Living on the verge of a nervous breakdown, looking forward to an utter collapse; inviting, investigating, wishing, hoping , dreaming, begging. Oh, when will it come? Something has changed. Or is it about to?
If Water Were Present It Would Be Called Drowning is Theatre Revelations‘ aptly named, stunningly brilliant and absolutely indecent, surreal projection of a woman in total lock down, just waiting, maps in hand, for her moment of escape. It is experimental theater at its best.
Betsy Moore is a gutsy, solid, actress, intelligent, hilarious and quite frankly perfect as Lolly, the desperate housewife who is out of love, luck and opportunities and only in her thirties. She sifts, caught in a loop, through her jumbled mind of pretend soap opera sexual encounters, fantasies of killing her angry, neglectful husband, abandoning her unloving children, and circumventing the monotony with secret visits to dirty motels just to do nothing on car pool days off; all the while drowning in the sickening existence of being the outwardly perfectly bored housewife.
Seamless writing and directing by John Sinner. This performance was executed with finess and expertise assisted by the masterful sound and lighting design of Matt Richter, video construction of both Adam Soch and Carol Gehring, tech op/stage manager, Forrest Lancaster and music, Bobby McElver, and also with co-star Paul Tucci in a rare position of strength that supported the histrionics in the simplest of ways.
Outstanding – bar none.
Starring: Betsy Moore. With Paul Tucci. Written & Directed by John Sinner. Sound & Lights: Matt Richter. Tech Op/Stage Manager: Forrest Lancaster. Video (Sky) – Adam Soch. Video (Kitchen) – Carol Gehring. Costumes – John Sinner. Creative Consultant + Motif XF Music Cues + Art Design & Photo – J. Goodkind. “Japan” Music Cue – Bobby McElver
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