Duncan Macmillan

Drama at District a raw look at recovery

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By John Lyle Belden

Ever had a “toxic” relationship? How about literally toxic.

“Drugs and alcohol have never let me down. They have always loved me.”

These are the words of Emma, a struggling actress at the center of “People, Places & Things” by Duncan Macmillan (writer of “Every Brilliant Thing”) which had a successful London premiere in 2015. Stage Door Productions brings it to Indianapolis, nurtured and directed by Kevin Caraher, playing at The District Theatre on Mass Ave.

Emma (Trick Blanchfield), scarred by traumas of which we will learn, whole-heartedly believes her statement above, but comes to suspect the chemicals’ love is destroying her. To quote an unrelated work, breaking up is hard to do.

She prefers to live in the masks of the characters she portrays, but they are starting to blur into one another. The play opens with her on the stage of a classic work, having a dissociative episode. When she inevitably checks into rehab, she claims the name of the character she plays. During her recovery and relapses, she is accompanied by shadows of herself (Sara Williams, Audrey Stonerock, Cara Wilson).

Thus, the central point-of-view character is also an unreliable narrator, bringing to bear one of the frustrating factors of recovery. Even when the person wants to change and craves help, lying has become as natural as breathing, especially to one’s self. Macmillan’s words effectively keep the audience following the plot off-balance: Is Emma’s brother dead, as she says, and which set of circumstances she relates are true? Do the no-nonsense Nurse at the rehab center and happy-shiny Therapist for group sessions actually look like her Mom (all played pitch-perfect by Denise Jaeckel)? Are her parents as deeply flawed and toxic in their own way as she claims? Is even her name what she says it is at any point?

Emma’s love of stagecraft becomes a vector for hard lessons as other members of Group use her as their sounding-board for “exercises” in what each recovering addict will say to a significant person in their lives. Mark (Ryan Powell in an award-worthy performance), who immediately sees through her BS, gets that ball rolling, and continues to challenge her throughout the play. He has gained wisdom the hard way, including understanding without mentioning it that any (if this were Hollywood) romantic connection would just be the chemicals and desperation talking. (Thank you, Mr. Macmillan, for dodging that trope.)  

Other members of Group, played by Tailynn Downing, Anna Himes, Matt Kraft, David Molloy, Adrienne Reiswerg, and Bryan Ball Carvajal (as Foster, past patient and present staffer) each have their own perspective of addiction, relating the various paths both the downward spiral and upward climb can take. Then there’s brave, brilliant Dan Flahive as Paul, the patient who takes things too far, whose higher power is apparently a schizophrenic Jesus. What could be, and to a small extent is, played as comic relief becomes a look into the abyss any staffer or past patient of such a facility has seen too often.

Still, in contrast to Emma, the others “get it,” the reason why they are there, that they are sick and desire to truly get well.

Some might see thematic similarities to the 2000 recovery rom-com film, “28 Days,” starring Sandra Bulloch, but this story has a lot more raw, authentic-feeling edges and is better played through the style and magical realism of live theatre. It reflects the real-world fact that one visit to an institution is rarely enough. Also, know that not all its characters will be alive at the end of the play.

Saving the best for last, I’ll note that Blanchfield is truly outstanding. She draws on wells of pain and strength like few can, while somehow getting some hope in that bucket. She communicates “hot mess” while still making us want to root for her. We are blessed beyond reason to have her recently join the central Indiana theatre scene.

In a lighter note (and there are a few) we do get to see an actor nearly naked – and it’s not who you might expect (consider yourself warned).

A huge thank you to Caraher for getting this masterpiece to Indy, and executing it so well, and hat-tip to stage managers Whitney Leigh and Amelie Zirnheld. While this has a simple set, by Kathy Hoefgen, it is notable for the visual metaphor that the “EXIT,” whether triumphant or tragic, is always there.

Performances continue tonight (as I post this), Sunday, and next weekend with two shows on Saturday, through June 25. For tickets, visit indydistricttheatre.org. (Note to Googlers: There is a Stage Door Productions in Virginia, so for the Indiana company, look up their Facebook page.)

IRT: Happiness is a long list

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By Wendy Carson

Depression, suicide, and mental illness have all been highly stigmatized subjects. Only recently have we as a nation been broaching these topics, yet still refer to them in hushed tones.

In the Indiana Repertory Theatre’s staging of “Every Brilliant Thing” by Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe, we are presented with a unique look at someone dealing with the above issues through personal accounts of his experiences.

This is the story of a Man (no name is given) whose mother’s first attempt at suicide is when he is 7 years old. To somehow make sense of things, and help her heal, he begins to make a list of things that are worth living for. No matter how hard he tries to get this across to her, she seems to not listen. After a while the list is abandoned in the pages of a favorite book and forgotten.

During his college years, he begins wooing a girl and inadvertently loans her the book containing the list. She delights in the idea and returns it to him with a few of her own additions. The two continue adding to the list and he continues to send its contents to his mother, but to no avail. Her suicidal tendencies overwhelm her no matter what.

Since this is not a fairy tale, nobody lives happily ever after. The man and his girlfriend marry, then separate. The abandoned list resurfaces, only about 1,000 items shy of one million. How many more Brilliant Things can they add?

The story overall is quite endearing. It’s never too dark or too syrupy, but very true to the realities of the world. What sets it apart is the manner in which it is presented.

Prior to the show, lone performer Marcus Truschinski hands out postcards and other scraps of paper to various members of the audience. Each has a word or phrase on it along with a number. When he mentions that number – an item on the list – during the show, the person holding the corresponding card must shout out the information for all to hear.

There is a small section of audience seating at the rear of the stage which patrons can choose. Of course, these people will be incorporated into the show, as the script requires various other people to interact with Truschinski in order to tell the story. However, in a stroke of misdirection, audience members from all over are actually used.

True to the show’s fringe-festival roots, with its audience interaction each performance is entirely unique. Add to this Truschinski’s amazing improv skills and you have an evening of theater that is uplifting, thought provoking, touching, and enriching throughout.

Make a note to add this experience to your own list. Performances are through Feb. 10 on the upperstage of the IRT, 140 W. Washington St. in downtown Indy; call 317-635-5252 or visit irtlive.com.