What I liked
I was extremely surprised to learn that this wasn’t a published play. I thought the adaptation was nuanced, funny without being overly clever, and integrated well into its modern context. I was a little worried that contextualizing the play amidst COVID and the following black lives matter protests would feel forced, but it was the first play I’ve seen set post-2020 that resonated with me in terms of how the pandemic impacted intimate relationships. MAJOR props to playwright, Ben Edlin.
All of the performances were really solid, but I thought Ivy as Lucy (youngest sister), Sierra as Jennifer (oldest sister), Van as Larry, and Ben as Fred stood out in the extent of their grounded/embodied performances and emotional depth/complexity. I cried when Ivy as Lucy lamented her stature in life in the arms of her sisters. Despite their familial ISSUES, it made me miss my sister VERY MUCH.
I loved the size of the ensemble in such an intimate space, as it felt like too many people were invited to Thanksgiving. The director, Lauren Lovett, made the ensemble feel simultaneously natural and hilariously scrambled, just as many of us feel at a much-too-large gathering. The ensemble felt intimately connected and comfortable with one another, adding to the overall emotional resonance of the piece!
What I didn't like
Honestly, I just think it was really good…
My overall impression
An extraordinarily well-oiled ensemble that reminded me over and over again how much I need my family.
