What I liked
Between the excellent scenes that drive the plot are little vignettes which feel almost out of the space and time of the story, where the characters offer meditations, poems, and treatises on a variety of subjects. These moments are powerful and engaging, and create emotional and ideological depth to the piece before yielding back to the snappy dialogue of the more plot-driven scenes. I felt let into the author’s vision and trusted with heady, poetic monologues that conveyed immense ideas without feeling preachy. Much in the way that characters of old take the stage to offer their takes on life, love, and more, these monologues give the play a sense of timelessness and value that transcends even its own plot.
What I didn't like
Honestly I’m genuinely not sure what I would have done to improve this play. I feel like it’s a complete thought and it achieves everything it sets out to do. There are certain threads that are dropped in the first few scenes and not picked back up, but the nature of the script makes these feel like alterations in a chord rather than missed notes. Some might find these aborted plot arcs incongruous, and I’d agree, but I feel like they end up serving the overall intention behind the work.
My overall impression
I was truly blown away by the quality, energy, depth, and vision of this work. I came in expecting a snappy comedy and left having witnessed a profound meditation on womanhood, religion, togetherness, and the sea. In no way, however, does Women Who Eat skimp on its fundamentals. The dialogue is electric, the blocking is smooth, the set is inviting, the characters are multifaceted and three-dimensional while still remaining relatable and funny. Each of the actors is a powerful on-stage presence, and the sterling quality of the script allows them total license to explore their characters as people.
