What I liked
The staging was wonderful and worked perfectly with the imaginative sets, lights, and sound design. I loved the psychedelic breakdown in the middle; the physical bits of gymnastics and comedy had me on the edge of my seat! The acting was fabulous across the board, bringing these exceedingly well known characters off the page and onto the stage. Leah Artenian plays Lolita with a hilarious teenage bravado while Sophia Brackenridge imbues Ophelia with soft subtle layers that beautifully unfold as the play goes on. Savannah Gilmore’s performance of Daisy is simply sublime, gifting Gatsby’s society girl with a mix of glamour and poise that is utterly breathtaking. All three actresses artfully toe the line between comedy and drama and portray real people, rather than archetypal characters.
What I didn't like
I loved the three areas for each character, but when everyone was on the chair at stage left it was a little cramped and hard to see (at least from my seat on the far right). A couple of times when all three of you were talking, it was hard to make out what you were saying.
My overall impression
A fascinating exploration into the psyche of three famous ladies from the Western canon, Lolita, Daisy, Ophelia: A Love Story is at turns hilarious, whimsical, thoughtful, and devastating. As these characters learn about each other, they learn more about themselves as well, and manage to stake out new territory away from the patriarchal voice that controls these iconic works. You won’t be able to read these stories in the same way again!
