Inspiration and Loss (Jack Wallen/Me and My Muse)

Me and My Muse: An Episodic Drama

Episode One Wake Up

Written by Jack Wallen

Directed by Sharon Kinnison

Review by Kate Barry

Entire contents are copyright @2025 by Kate Barry. All rights reserved.

Loss, imposter syndrome and the strength to carry on…Me and My Muse is full of striking themes and concepts. And this is only the first installment of the episodic series. With striking multi-media elements, it is hard to look away from the imagery of a writer’s suffering and the wit of a being that might be able to save them.

Me and My Muse could be labeled as a passion project, in the most literal definition. The play is written by Jack Wallen, who also plays Jeremy, a novelist stricken by grief of the sudden death of his wife (played with an angelic presence by Su Crocker in video flashbacks). The content felt personal as Jeremy is deeply consumed by mourning to the point where he lacks inspiration for his next great novel. The play is only an hour but this promises to be the first installment of ten episodes. Battling mental health and motivation, the concise yet witty script provides an exceptionally moving story of heartbreak.

As the title implies, Wallen’s Jeremy is visited by, terrified by and then partnered with a muse in human form. Appearing in the way of a “big ass homeless black man,” Keith McGill’s brings his natural comedic timing and charisma to the muse. This is a muse who wants greatness and is anything but an imaginary friend. He feels things deeply and sympathizes for Jeremy yet he is not afraid to push the writer to his limit. Wallen brings a lost spirit to his writer character. Literally wrapped in blankets at the start of the play, he is content with his isolation. Wallen brings an emotional performance with heightened moments of insecurity that slowly begin to crack.

Wallen and McGill bring a steady chemistry. They interact naturally and with ease. The script takes great liberties to poke fun at writing and art in general. There are varied art and pop culture references scattered throughout which McGill and Wallen have much fun delivering as well. The running joke of “ergo” as pretentious fodder is well executed. Storytelling plays a big part of this play. Wallen’s writer tells two stories, one is tragic and one is romantic. Honest and passionate, the details are intimate, descriptive and contain a significant amount of emotional weight to the production.

Me and My Muse played to a very small house on opening night. As Jeremy’s storyline unfolded and the muse delivered inspiration, a shift occurs near the end of this first episode. With such a gripping story, I hope this episodic piece of theater gains the large audience it deserves by the next installment.

Me and My Muse: An Episodic Drama Episode One Wake Up Written and Produced by Jack Wallen August 21-23, 28-30 at 7pm August 24, 31 at 2pm Walden Conservatory Theater at StageOneFamilyTheatre 123 Payne Street Louisville KY 40204