Last night I went to the world premiere of an incredibly thought-provoking play by Jeff Talbott called i. I didn't know anything about it because there were no director's notes provided in the program and the setting was listed as a city sometime soon. Now that I have seen it I think it is much better to go in blind and let the events (and the plot twist) surprise you. It begins with a clearly distraught young woman named Sarah Cooper (Kathleen McElfresh) as she is interviewed by a doctor before undergoing a mysterious medical procedure. The next time we see her she seems to be a completely different woman who has relocated to another city. Then she meets Jake Bellamy (Todd Gearhart) and her new life begins to unravel. This play is a profound meditation on identity and my mind was swirling with so many ideas as I left the theater! What role do our memories play in who we are? Is it better to feel nothing at all rather than feel sad? Just because something is possible does that mean it should be done? This play requires quite a bit of engagement as it is comprised mostly of intimate conversations between the two main characters (several people sitting near me were clearly restless) but I really enjoyed it. The minimal set, composed of moving plexiglass panels, and the lighting cues are very effective at conveying the isolation felt by the main characters. Both McElfresh and Gearhart give highly nuanced performances that I found to be incredibly affecting and I was very impressed by the sheer number of characters portrayed by Nefeesa Monroe. I applaud Pioneer Theatre for its willingness to produce new works like this and I highly recommend this production. It runs through March 3 and tickets may be purchased here.
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