It’s hard not to think how incredible that two shows onstage right now center on women – and women of a certain age. Kitchen Dog is wrapping up its run of Venus, a play about two women and the aftermath of their curious first date. And now at Echo, The Roommate centers on women over 40 embarking on new chapters. If you’re lucky to catch both, these shows highlight two vastly different relationships between women while also showcasing a distinct strength and vulnerability in each individual character.
But we’re here to talk about Echo’s The Roommate – and there is much to say.
Jen Silverman’s play is a study of two women who may be polar opposites of each other: one feels forgotten, the other wants to forget. But as they unpack their differences, the commonality causes a commotion. Director Caroline Hamilton painted this regional premiere with a masterful hand. Through its slower Midwestern pace, the show was a complex drama that was charming and discomforting all at the same time peppered with dark comedy.
Sharon is in her mid-fifties who is now in the aftermath of a divorce decides to share her Iowa home with a roommate. Robyn needs a place to hide and a chance to start over as a 50-something herself. They are water and oil but Sharon discovers some disturbing secrets about Robyn, but in lieu of judgment, Sharon leans into the unethical past Robyn brings with her.
As Sharon, Ellen Locy tapped dexterously into the character’s beige life. Sharon is certainly set in her ways but not entirely stubborn and Locy puzzle-pieced all that into a character that felt familiar and real. With all that Sharon discovers about Robyn as well as her struggles with the absence of her distant adult son, Locy played her with an understated sweetness. Nothing seems to faze Sharon despite all the big changes in her life and Locy conveyed that with intelligent flair.
The edgier Robyn in her band t-shirts felt like a woman in the middle of a mid-life crisis. Merri Brewer brought a swagger to the role that was coated with the character’s colorful history. Robyn is a woman who knows things, but isn’t the most open book. Brewer’s poker face in the first half of the show was unbreakable leading to curiosity about what’s up with the character. As Robyn melts a bit, Brewer shifts away from any suspicion into a sympathetic figure who you’d want to treat for a beer.
Both characters have arcs that seem to travel in the other’s direction. Sharon wants to be more like Robyn. Robyn seems to find comfort in Sharon’s way of living. Each actor convincingly brought those small odysseys to life.
This may be a two-actor show, but the other character is Sharon’s house itself. A mid-century oasis Iowa, the house is Sharon’s sanctuary with her trusty coffee mug and music player going, she’s resigned into her beautiful space. Robyn seems to find comfort in this remote space that is probably unlike anyplace she’s lived in before back in New York. The space is cozy and warm but in some ways a prison.
That being said, convince me now, because Kateri Cale’s set was drop-dead gorgeous. This is probably the first set I’ve ever taken pictures of for interior design inspo. The neat MCM lines mixed seamlessly with modern touches – particularly the light chandelier I’m low-key obsessed with.
The show did have its struggles.
Despite the relaxed vibe to the slower-paced Iowa home, the pace of the story felt askew. The dialogue and action would sometimes ramble without a beat. Thus, the show’s tempo kept driving forward even in its tempered storytelling.This took away from savoring some of the show’s more compelling scenes. And despite a couple of moments with music, the lack of any sound or underlying score felt unnatural and almost oppressive.
Nonetheless, The Roommate was still a striking experience to watch. One that will bring up questions and conversation well after the show. Echo did Silverman right with its direction and casting in this stunning production.
The show runs through July 4.
–Rich Lopez