Stronger Bond and Higher Stakes (Ergo Theatre)

Me and My Muse: An Episodic Drama

Episode Two The Big Pitch

Written by Jack Wallen

Directed by Sharon Kinnison

Review by Kate Barry

Entire contents are copyright @2026 by Kate Barry. All rights reserved.

Last August, the first installment of Me and My Muse made its debut. If you missed it, here’s the rundown: a writer struggles with writers block as he grieves his partner’s death when he is visited by a muse. The writer is struck by inspiration and finds the strength to create again. This weekend, episode two “The Big Pitch” premiers as the writer and muse form a stronger bond and face high stakes.

As Jeremy and the muse, Jack Wallen and Keith McGill have an established chemistry with trust and wit. Their ability to fire off jabs and references between each other feels natural whether the McGill’s muse is distracting or giving Jeremy his next big idea. Wallen’s Jeremy is healing from his loss yet keeps the emotional impact alive with daydreams of times spent in love. A heartbroken romantic, Wallen’s Jeremy has progressed from the overwhelming power of grief yet still carries the impact in an empathetic performance.

Some of the strongest moments involve the effects of the close relationship between artist and the muse. McGill’s Muse remains constant yet distant when recalling the past writers and artists he has inspired. Relying heavily on comedic timing, McGill’s muse gives not so subtle hints that he might have had the idea for Lolita. The dialogue that follows allows Wallen’s sullen writer to ask direct questions which the muse dodges with great deflection and avoidance.

Looming over the entire episode, Wallen’s writer must come up with his next great idea. McGill’s muse remains supportive and present as Jeremy battles imposter syndrome and fears. The muse believes in Jeremy, he just needs to believe in himself.

Like the previous episode, “The Big Pitch” involves a pre-recorded component. Su Crocker appears again as the angelic Blake. Although some moments were hard to hear, the recorded scenes involve meetings with writing agents, a gathering of muses and externalized ideas from Jeremy’s imagination.

As Jeremy’s agent, Karole Spangler delivers tough news about deadlines as well as authentic confusion as her client bickers with a muse whose presence is imaginary. Spangler questions Jeremy’s constant conversations with himself without being over the top with a delivery that is quick and wry. Jason Cooper appears on screen as Jeremy’s idea for a book comes to light. A twist on Joan of Arc, Cooper’s line delivery of the “spirit and soul will not be diminished” speech with a face covered in smudged make up leaves room for much anticipation for what’s to come in future episodes.

Jeremy is given nine days to write the next great novel. By the end of “The Big Pitch,” the writer and the muse have joined forces for something original that might even be a hit. Hopes are high for the success of the novel and for a third episode of Me and My Muse.

Me and My Muse: An Episodic Drama

Episode Two The Big Pitch

Ergo Theatre

February 26, 27, 28 at 7pm

March 5, 6, 7 at 7pm

March 1 and 8 at 2pm

Walden Conservatory Theater at StageOneFamilyTheatre

123 Payne Street

Louisville KY