Smudge

In Rachel Axler’s Smudge, eager parents Colby and Nick’s expectations are dashed when their baby is born deformed – limbless, one-eyed, purple/gray skin. Not quite a baby. Closer to a smudge. Some might even say inhuman. Would you? While Nick (Jesse G. Louis) is immediately taken by his daughter - lumps and all, Colby (Whitney Wellner) has a much harder time tapping into her maternal instincts. Her resentment of the smudge is palpable. A lesser play would have made Colby a villain and Nick a saint, however Smudge digs deeper. The play adequately gives Colby a point of view that can be understood if not entirely sympathized with. Nick's response, too, is shown to be lacking as it becomes clear that each parent is missing a piece ... full review