BWW Reviews: MELANCHOLY PLAY from STAGEright

One of Seattle's younger theater companies is really starting to show its maturity.  At only two years old STAGEright Theatre has shown it can consistently put on quirky, engaging and underdone pieces, with a minimal production budget and do them well.  And their latest endeavor, "Melancholy Play" by Sarah Ruhl, is no exception.

In "Melancholy Play" we meet Tilly (Megan Tyrrell), a sweet but sad young woman.  But her aura of melancholy (hence the title of the play) only makes her more attractive to the people she meets.  Frank (Jordan Melin), an accountant turned tailor; Francis (Anna Townes), a physicist turned hair dresser; the nurse Joan (Jennifer Owen); and the psychiatrist Lorenzo (Mike Jones) who has his own international baggage all seem to lead happy lives until they meet Tilly and suddenly her melancholy infects them as they fall madly in love with her.  But when Tilly suddenly becomes happy, the rest find themselves falling further and further into despair until one of them actually becomes the epitome of melancholia. 

The play itself feels a little long winded.  Not, I think due to any of the performances or the direction from Lexi Clements Deschambault and definitely not due to the outstanding mood underscoring from Cellist Rachael Beaver.  I just feel that the underlying story isn't really enough to carry the entire show (even at only 90 minutes) and therefore the author tends to get a little verbose for the sake of being verbose.  But then, what would melancholia be unless you could talk about it?

The wonderful performances from this gifted ensemble are superb.  Tyrrell is filled with exuberance even when melancholic.  Owen is delightful as the conflicted nurse and Townes has great comic timing when she breaks out of this despondent world from time to time.  And Jones and Melin as the dejected lovers are hysterical especially Melin who's introduction to melancholia was the perfect way to start the show.  I do wish however that all of the cast would have committed a bit more to their magnificent choices to give the show and their characters just that much more punch. 

All in all another very promising show from a mere toddler of a company.  And that I think is the watchword for this company, promising.  So treat yourself to a wonderful (and inexpensive) excursion to this sweet yet sad world of peculiar characters from this promising troupe but try not to get sucked into the despair.  And try not to step on any almonds.  You never know who they could be.

"Melancholy Play" from STAGEright performs at Freehold Theatre in Belltown through July 31^st.  For tickets or information visit them online at www.seattlestageright.org.

Photo credit: Marc King