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The Flea Theater has opened its new home on Thomas Street with this production in its Siggy Theater, named for Sigourney Weaver, a Flea founder. (The other two venues have yet to open.) Those familiar with the small downstairs theater in its former home on White Street will feel right at home here. It has similar dimensions — wide and shallow — and is quite intimate. Nick Robideau’s play, written for The Bats, the Flea’s resident company of young actors, is a good choice to carry on the Flea’s reputation for offbeat material. The heroine Erica (an excellent Lacy Allen) is a socially awkward 30-year-old who works as a grocery bagger in a small Massachusetts town. She loses her job when she is spotted talking to the items in a grocery cart. It turns out that she has a condition known as objectum sexualis, which involves attachment to objects rather than people. Her current main attraction is the sign at the local Dairy Queen, affectionately referred to by her as Dee (drolly personified by Philip Feldman). She also has had a thing for her floor lamp (Artem Kreimer), a stuffed animal (Nancy Tatiana Quintana), an Oxo can opener (Michael Oloyede) and assorted other objects. She confides in the equally awkward Kevin (Maki Borden), a former schoolmate of uncertain sexuality who has been working at the DQ for 13 years and who has a crush on her. Encouraged by his sensitive reaction, she finally gets up the nerve to explain things to her sister Trish (Tressa Preston), an ambitious local politician. Sarah Lawrence’s whimsical costumes are wonderful. The set design by Yu-Hsuan Chen makes good use of limited resources. The Bats are clearly enjoying their roles and their enjoyment is infectious. Director Courtney Ulrich’s staging is confident and fluid. The subplot about the sister’s ambitions does not blend well with the rest of the play. At times it is difficult to decide whether the playwright intends for us to feel sympathy or bemused scorn for Erica’s condition. It’s an edgy play that’s not for everyone. Running time: 85 minutes, no intermission.
The Flea Theater has opened its new home on Thomas Street with this production in its Siggy Theater, named for Sigourney Weaver, a Flea founder. (The other two venues have yet to open.) Those familiar with the small downstairs theater in its former home on White Street will feel right at home here. It has similar dimensions — wide and shallow — and is quite intimate. Nick Robideau’s play, written for The Bats, the Flea’s resident company of young actors, is a good choice to carry on the Flea’s reputation for offbeat material. The heroine Erica (an excellent Lacy Allen) is a socially awkward 30-year-old who works as a grocery bagger in a small Massachusetts town. She loses her job when she is spotted talking to the items in a grocery cart. It turns out that she has a condition known as objectum sexualis, which involves attachment to objects rather than people. Her current main attraction is the sign at the local Dairy Queen, affectionately referred to by her as Dee (drolly personified by Philip Feldman). She also has had a thing for her floor lamp (Artem Kreimer), a stuffed animal (Nancy Tatiana Quintana), an Oxo can opener (Michael Oloyede) and assorted other objects. She confides in the equally awkward Kevin (Maki Borden), a former schoolmate of uncertain sexuality who has been working at the DQ for 13 years and who has a crush on her. Encouraged by his sensitive reaction, she finally gets up the nerve to explain things to her sister Trish (Tressa Preston), an ambitious local politician. Sarah Lawrence’s whimsical costumes are wonderful. The set design by Yu-Hsuan Chen makes good use of limited resources. The Bats are clearly enjoying their roles and their enjoyment is infectious. Director Courtney Ulrich’s staging is confident and fluid. The subplot about the sister’s ambitions does not blend well with the rest of the play. At times it is difficult to decide whether the playwright intends for us to feel sympathy or bemused scorn for Erica’s condition. It’s an edgy play that’s not for everyone. Running time: 85 minutes, no intermission.
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