(Cover Photo: The CAST of "YOU, ME & ENNUI" by Kara Emily Krantz, presented by Becoming More Productions in Whitinsville, MA. now playing through October 27, 2024. Photo Credit: Drew Forsberg Photography)

By Kevin T. Baldwin

METRMAG Reviewer

# 774-242-6724  

“Life is islands of ecstasy in an ocean of ennui and, after the age of 30, land is seldom seen."

            - Luke Rhinehart  

Becoming More Productions

Presents Kara Emily Krantz's

"YOU, ME & ENNUI"

Written by Kara Emily Krantz

Produced by Kara Emily Krantz and Julianne McGourty

In partnership with Cristi Collari at ValleyCast

Stage Manager Sonya Richards

Cast Includes: Evan Graber as "Theodore,” Kara Emily Krantz as “Samantha,” Julianne McGourty as “Sassafras,” Michael Pray as “David.”

Additional Creative Team:  Assistant Stage Manager - Dana Fitzpatrick; Movement Specialist - Michael Pray; Texted Improv - Diana Canterbury; Tech Consultant - Dave Plante; Videographer/Editor - Victoria Hersey; Assistant Videographer - James Calnan III.

Performances:

October 17, 2024 through October 27, 2024

(Contact Becoming More Productions for Exact Times)

*Special Talk-Backs with playwright & cast after each Saturday Performance, 10/19 & 10/26

Singh Performance Center, Historic Whitin Mill, 60 Douglas Road, Whitinsville, MA.

TICKETS:

https://www.ticketsource.us/becoming-more-productions/e-kbzegg 

(simply change the amount to $0 tickets and no fee will be charged!)

COVID 19 PROTOCOLS

Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.

Becoming More Productions has staged a charming "YOU, ME & ENNUI" which is now playing in Whitinsville and is one birthday party well worth attending. 

There is quite a bit to admire in the show and, on a technical level, the execution flows extremely well from beginning to end.

From playwright Kara Emily Krantz, who also produces and stars as “Samantha” in the two-act play, the story takes place in an elder man’s home where Samantha has somehow wandered into....actually, the legal term might be closer to "breaking and entering." 

Samantha wakes up and realizes that she must have had too much to drink the night before and inadvertently collapsed in the home while in her drunken stupor. 

As she looks around the home, it is a ramshackle mess, much like its occupant with whom she is about to encounter in her hungover state. 

(Photo: Evan Graber as "Theodore” in a scene from "YOU, ME & ENNUI" by Kara Emily Krantz, presented by Becoming More Productions in Whitinsville, MA. now playing through October 27, 2024. Photo Credit: Drew Forsberg Photography)

There are tons of empty juice boxes strewn about the living room area filled with mugs and books…lots and lots of books…a ratty old loveseat and chair with several old wooden tables, a wooden chair and a coatrack. 

There are three doors along the back wall, three bookcases and pictures and painting adorning the wall. 

The eclectic mix of books includes many “classics” - from Tolkien to (supposedly) Kierkegaard to the “Babysitters Club” and more. 

There is a dying fern along the wall stage right, and the head of a dead deer mounted along the back wall (whose eyes some in the audience might take note of how they just seem to follow you slowly to and from your seat). 

In walks homeowner Theodore (Evan Graber), a 75-year-old reclusive man, although how actually reclusive he is later becomes debatable. 

Immediately, Theodore “converses” with the head of the mounted deer, “Jasper” (staging-wise, it might have been more effective aesthetically if mounted to either side of the stage as several times anyone “talking” to Jasper had to turn their backs to the audience). 

Jasper soon becomes like a fifth character in the play, although it was probably never the original intention of the deer to enter into show business in quite this fashion.

(Photo: Julianne McGourty as “Sassafras” with Evan Graber as "Theodore” in a scene from "YOU, ME & ENNUI" by Kara Emily Krantz, presented by Becoming More Productions in Whitinsville, MA. now playing through October 27, 2024. Photo Credit: Drew Forsberg Photography)

Throughout the show, Theodore drinks a ton of juice boxes - so much so one wonders why he is not constantly having to leave the stage to relieve himself.

Theodore never married (for reasons we will eventually learn) but he fostered over 20 children in his lifetime and has an adopted son, David (Michael Pray). 

The above would explain why he might have those “Babysitter Club” books, by the way. 

However, and for reasons unclear, none of his former charges are ever mentioned by name throughout the show although there are pictures of some shown on the set. 

As for adopted son David, he has not seen Theodore in five years. 

The reason for their estrangement becomes a bit more focused upon later on. 

Announced at the outset of the show, "YOU, ME & ENNUI" is a work in progress and these performances are intended to help workshop and “polish” the material. 

That said, the four characters and much of the show’s overall structure seem already extremely “polished.” 

So, any modifications required should be minimal. 

(Photo: Julianne McGourty as “Sassafras,” Evan Graber as "Theodore,” Kara Emily Krantz as “Samantha” and Michael Pray as “David” in a scene from "YOU, ME & ENNUI" by Kara Emily Krantz, presented by Becoming More Productions in Whitinsville, MA. now playing through October 27, 2024. Photo Credit: Drew Forsberg Photography)

One area which might need further examination is the relationship between the characters of Theodore and David. 

Although their backstories appear concise - and the performances by Graber and Pray exemplary - the overall relationship between the two seems a bit incomplete or “unthreaded.” 

Certain moments seem abrupt, rushed and/or forced as a result, primarily during Act Two.

One moment in particular that seemed rushed was David re-entering the second act fairly well intoxicated after only about ten minutes of drinking.

It should be noted that "YOU, ME & ENNUI" does NOT go in the dark direction one might assume (especially given the play's title) as we get further into the story. 

Graber is outstanding as Theodore, who is a thoughtful, caring man - albeit his demeanor is a bit “crusty” at times (although he has good reason for this). 

At this point in Theodore’s life, when days number fewer ahead than behind, he seeks seclusion, which Samantha has just eviscerated with her presence. 

Krantz gives a sensitive performance as Samantha, who has come into Theodore’s home neither intentionally nor by accident, as she does have a purpose for being there. 

However, her plan, though, probably did not involve getting blind drunk and wandering into Theodore’s home. 

(Photo: Kara Emily Krantz as “Samantha” with Michael Pray as “David” in a scene from "YOU, ME & ENNUI" by Kara Emily Krantz, presented by Becoming More Productions in Whitinsville, MA. now playing through October 27, 2024. Photo Credit: Drew Forsberg Photography)

Theodore believes Samantha’s (unannounced and completely unexpected) arrival might mean she is a (specific kind of) home health aide who had been scheduled by the agency to be interviewed before potentially being hired by Theodore. 

Samantha does not dispute this assumption and initiates a charade in an effort to get to know a little more about Theodore before giving him some critically important, revelatory news. 

Throwing a monkey wrench into this, Samantha and Theodore are suddenly joined by Samantha’s kooky friend, Sassafras (Julianne McGourty), who is a latent hippy straight out of a cult…uh, commune. 

Sassafras is most assuredly the brightest light shining in this entire play, mostly due to the combination of Krantz’s exceptional development of the character and McGourty’s infectious unrestrained, effervescent performance. 

There are not only moments of great humor, there are times when the characters touch us with more resonant thoughtful moments replete with self-reflection and poignancy.

As Theodore tries to make sense of these “interlopers,” he soon learns that sometimes strangers enter our lives unexpectedly and, without any hostile agenda, by their mere presence they actually help us to heal whatever it is that is causing us pain deep inside. 

(Photo: The CAST of "YOU, ME & ENNUI" by Kara Emily Krantz, presented by Becoming More Productions in Whitinsville, MA. now playing through October 27, 2024. Photo Credit: Drew Forsberg Photography)

According to Merriam-Webster, the word “ennui” means a “feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction, or boredom” and yet, there is nothing about this play that feels the slightest bit weary, dissatisfying or boring. 

There are numerous moments to enjoy as we get to know more about these four people and their respective relationships with one another. 

So, if the script for "YOU, ME & ENNUI" does get further developed, one only hopes that it maintains its quintessential charm and appeal. 

Kara Emily Krantz’s "YOU, ME & ENNUI" continues at the Singh Performance Center in Whitinsville until October 27^th, 2024 and we should all look forward to more offerings from Becoming More Productions in the near future.

For tickets visit https://www.ticketsource.us/becoming-more-productions/e-kbzegg (simply change the amount to $0 tickets and no fee will be charged!)

Approximately two hours, 20 minutes with one intermission.

Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)

@MetrmagReviews

@Theatre_Critics

ABOUT THE SHOW

Sometimes people stumble into your life... and help heal you.

When 32-year-old Samantha wakes up with a hangover on 75-year-old Theodore's couch, the only logical way to navigate the situation is to pose as his caretaker. 

While discovering why she is there, Sam and Teddy form a strange yet wonderful bond.

ABOUT BECOMING MORE PRODUCTIONS

BECOMING MORE PRODUCTIONS is a group dedicated to the growth and development of the artist as a performer, individual, and creative soul. Those involved with BECOMING MORE PRODUCTIONS believe accessibility is the heart of what makes art transformative.

BECOMING MORE PRODUCTIONS

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