Evolution of love and partnership through time (Bunbury Theatre)

Mar 21

3 min read

115

Sirens

By Deborah Zoe Laufer

Directed by Kathy Preher Reynolds

A Review by Regina Harris

There’s an old saying that goes: “Girls mature into women; boys just grow older.” Twenty-five years into a solid marriage, having raised a son and sent him off to college, Rose and Sam Abrams are facing their 25th wedding anniversary. They are planning to go on a cruise to celebrate. Rose is anxious to get away for adventure; she loves her husband but longs for deeper connection with him. As for him, his deeper connections come as anonymous scrabble partners many years his junior on Facebook. The Sirens of Odysseus promised him everlasting fame so he could forever dwell on his glories from the past. What adult going through mid-life crisis has ever managed not be tempted by them? Bunbury Theatre Company recent production of Deborah Zoe Laufer's 2010 Humana Festival play, Sirens is a captivating exploration on the evolution of love and partnership through the passage of time. Directed by Kathy Preher Reynolds, this production features an outstanding cast that brings Laufer's rich characters to life with both humor and poignancy.

Louisville theatre veteran Karole Spangler (who appears to have made a deal with the devil IMHO) delivers a heartfelt performance as Rose, a woman grappling with the comfortable complacency of long-term marriage, having long ago tucked away the passions of her youth. Spangler's nuanced portrayal captures Rose's internal acceptance as a wife in midlife, maintaining status-quo, when she is suddenly compelled to journey toward self-discovery.

Sean Childress as Sam is equally compelling, embodying the role of a handsome once-famous songwriter who is now struggling with a creative block and a lost sense of purpose. Midlife crisis is hitting him hard. Childress's portrayal is both charming and melancholic, making Sam's introspective moments deeply relatable. These two partners are at something of an impasse, which is as empathy producing as it is frustrating.

Enter Richard, Rose’s old flame and Sam’s old friend, portrayed by a much younger Ian Cobb. In Rose’s memory, he will always be a handsome young man - the “one who got away.” Having an opportunity to reconnect, he shows up late to their dinner date, claiming back pain and no access to his cell phone. What she sees the handsome young man of her youth as though the past had not touched him at all. Of course, what everyone else around them sees is an older man with back spasms. Anyone who has ever run into an old flame may have had a similar experience.

Joy Beth Dewitt is mesmerizing as the siren, a mythical figure who symbolizes temptation and the allure of the unknown. Dewitt's ethereal presence and truly captivating soprano add an enchanting quality to the production, and her interactions with Sam bring a magical,otherworldly element to the play.

Director Kathy Preher Reynolds successfully evinced on-point performances from each actor. Together they have crafted a seamless blend of humor and drama, swimming through a narrative that oscillates between reality and myth. The scenic and set design, along with lighting, further enhance the ocean atmosphere, perfectly capturing the whimsical yet introspective tone of the play. Kudos to Karl Anderson and Nick Dent. Special shout out to Costume Designer Nancy Hansen -- the Siren’s costume was captivating.

Bunbury Theatre Company production of Sirens will take you, like it

did me, on a drive down memory lane, questioning all those opportunities missed. But you might also discover you are right where you are meant to be.

Sirens

The Bunbury Theatre Company

March 14, 15. 7:30pm

March 16 2:00 pm

March 21, 22 7:30pm

March 23 2:00 pm

March 26 -28 7:30 pm

March 29 2:00 pm

The Henry Clay Building

604 S 3 rd Street