My overall impression
Odessa is a window into a world without the fabric of happiness. Its dark themes and combative characters take you on a punch drunk journey of survival. With no clear antagonist, other than the ones living in their minds, Carly D. Weckstein directs this extremely talented cast with a blistering pace that keeps you engrossed from start to finish. Joanna Bateman and Bruce Lemon Jr. play lovers with all the complexity you would expect to find in a world without joy and an excess of desperately formed connections. The beautifully sparse script asks more questions than it answers, and allows just enough room for the audience to imagine life ‘up top, out there…’
This world premier is exactly what you would hope to find when looking for an evening of stimulating, powerful, and imaginative theatre. The minimal set and diegetic lighting create a dark and memorable experience. Also, the music is perfect.
