What I liked
I loved the situation that force characters to deal with each other. In this case, being stuck on a boat together forces the physicality and comedy to really jump out marvelously. Most importantly, Grace made room for deep authenticity and had the acting skills to back it up. We had a real moment during her voice memo scene that gave us a break from the comedy, which I really appreciated and added more depth to her character.
What I didn't like
- I thought some subtle body swaying/jolts could be added to really sell that they are on a boat riding the waves. Might be difficult to add, but perhaps marking on the script for certain lines where the body sways can be added and timed together. I believe it would add onto the immersive experience for the audience!
- While we saw a situational change (Grace quits her job) and a character arc for Grace, we didn’t really feel a relationship change between the two characters (they still hate each other) and her boss did not go through any character arc (still an asshole). I believe if people are in a forced predicament and come out as changed individuals, those are the best feel-good stories (ie. The Breakfast Club, The Lighthouse, etc). Add on top the elite comedy this play already has, this has the potential to easily be on par with physical comedy playwrights like George Bernard Shaw, Nikolai Gogol, Noel Coward, Oscar Wilde, etc. I left the theater feeling similar to when I watch productions of their plays. Very light and stress-free. Good stuff! Looking forward to seeing more of your work :)
My overall impression
Very well-written and thought-out genuine human predicament under a comedic light. I had a great laugh that evening! From the physical comedy to the niche humor, I hope this will be expanded into a full play. This is definitely something I will pay to come see again. This quality of work is what I expect to see in union and broadway productions.
