What I liked
I don’t have time to enumerate everything I loved about this play. The set dec, the lighting, the infectious, frantic, unfortunately-relatable energy Spencer Weitzel brings to the character, the know-it-all smarm I’m convinced Theo Fay stole from some of my ex-roommates like Prometheus taking dark fire from an evil god. Lucas James Nelson’s script is sharp, snappy, incisive, and even occasionally heartwarming. Casey Buxton-Dean cements her status as one of LA’s best directors with her dynamic, enticing staging and the deliciously maliciously (positive) enchanting performances she’s drawn from both Weitzel and Fay. I’m familiar with Buxton-Dean’s work, so I had high hopes, but this still blew my mind with its raw simplicity. There’s something so primal yet fresh in this exploration of anxiety. There’s absolutely zero dead air or wasted lines. Every moment is stuffed to the gills with strong acting choices, striking lighting, crackling dialogue, and full-body laughs. I want to do a deep dive on everything Nelson’s written. I’d buy a ticket to see Weitzel read a thesaurus. Fay needs to be considered for every likable jackass role going up in this town. One of the more compact plays I’ve seen this year, but packs a punch about 500 times its length. A true ant of a show.
What I didn't like
It’s hard to market this specific show without giving away the twist. It is still extremely powerful, but I wish I’d gone into it knowing less.
My overall impression
Like shotgunning a can of lightning!
