Amidst personal tragedies, a family comes together to find common ground in Playwright Jane Anderson’s “The Quality of Life.”
~Review and Photos by Dana Nöllsch~
The Story
Two cousins come together with their spouses to support and share their time of deep tragedy.
Dinah and Bill have found solace in their church after losing their daughter in a horrific way. They travel from their home in the Midwest to visit Dinah’s hippie cousin Jeannette and her husband Neil in the hills of Northern California. They know this may prove to be an uncomfortable visit as each couple seems to have very different views about life.
Jeannette and Neil are in the midst of their own challenges. A fire consumed the house they shared for many years and destroyed all of their sacred possessions. As if that was not enough, Neil is in the late stages of cancer and has a very short time to live.
The two couples come together to confront this dark time in their lives, hoping for support but also finding conflict.
“The Quality of Life” explores religious differences, ethical conflicts, morality, and end-of-life choices. Pulling no punches, this play will stay with you for some time. The writing is sharp as a scalpel, and the story is captivating; although the subjects are profound, “The Quality of Life” is a true masterwork.
Here are some photos to whet your appetite.
What about the Performances
This powerhouse cast holds nothing back as they take the stage to become the characters and fill the theatre with intensity.
The actors are perfectly cast for the roles, and more than that, they own the roles in a way that not many could come close to matching. This ensemble cast is generous with each other as they portray these deeply damaged characters.
Thanks to the quality of acting and the fantastic direction from Alexandra Frankel and Scott Hernandez, the audience falls into the story and feels the performances on a deeply emotional level.
The Bottom Line
Although “The Quality of Life” takes the audience on a very emotional journey, it is a pleasurable experience. The supreme acting, directing, and writing make this a thoroughly engrossing play. However, be aware that some may find the subject matter a bit emotional. Bring your Kleenex!
The Quality of Life
by Jane Anderson
Directed by: Alexandra Frankel & Scott Hernandez
CAST
Moira Bengochea as Dinah
Rod Hearn as Bill
La Ronda Etheridge as Jeanette
Corbett Harrison as Neil
CREW
Asst. Director: Lauren Jullierat
Stage Manager: Jesse Spooner
Asst. Stage Manager: Nohemy Velasco
Scenic, Lighting, Prop, & Sound Designer: Chad Sweet
Accent & Dialect Coach: Rosie Brownlow-Calkin
Intimacy Coordinator: Thomas Rao
Costumer: Stefanie Lara
Dramaturg: Luis Galvez
Performance Dates
April 12, 13*, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, & 27 @ 7:30pm
April 14, 21**, & 28† @ 2pm
*denotes PAY-WHAT-YOU-WISH performance
**denotes talk back performance
† denotes captioned performance
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