By Jenell Rae, Backstage West

Southern CA May 11, 2005
The Lost, The Lonely, and the Devastated

Buckle up and prepare to enjoy this two-act comedy that provides the audience from the beginning with unexpected climaxes, interesting settings, and satirical representations delivered in just the right doses. Playwright Sy Rosen brilliantly blends sheer realism with intensely intriguing characters--even though there are dark themes--resulting in an evening filled with laughter and entertainment. Poignantly written and directed, this show manages to keep the onlooker in the moment by way of consistent action and amusing witticisms and portrayals.

Our entertainment begins in Act One, The Interview, directed by Amy Oldham. Jackie (Clare Meehan), a mentally challenged woman, just can't seem to land the right job, or can she? David (Dan Westerman), Jackie's social worker and confidant, tries to encourage her, even though he is struggling with his own employment issues. Steve Ferguson directs the next act, The Miracle Group, which presents challenges of its own when group members share amazing stories to figure out what qualifies as a miracle. Both acts brilliantly balance serious themes with absurdly funny characters, and they merge at the end when an unexpected "miracle" occurs.

The casting here is right on, especially the eclectic mix in Act Two. Although many of the characters are over-the-top, it works here, because the play continually revolves around the questioning of social conformity. Amy Oldham perfectly fits the mold as the overly enthusiastic group leader, Patrice, as does Melissa Bailey's portrayal of the nutty punk rocker, Clementine. Meehan's performance as Jackie steals the show, as does her surprise performance in Act Two.

On the other hand, the show's one blemish appears when actors are pulled from the audience shortly before intermission by the show's stage manager, Cordell Pace. This seems unnecessary and contrived in comparison with the rest of this show. Regardless, the play still manages to be satisfactory and presents an evening filled with entertainment.