What I liked
The play deftly conveys the importance video stores played in the structure of some families and what it represented to die-hard regular customers. The simple act of renting a video could mean escape, education, or maybe even lead to romance if you pressed “PLAY” at the appropriate time. Using a Narrator to bridge time-jumps in the story, we get interesting information about the development and demise of Blockbuster Video. The heart of this story, though, is how one store affected the lives of some customers deeply and meaningfully. The entire cast plays it all sincerely and effectively.
What I didn't like
The Narrator transitions were sometimes clunky, but that’s partially the limitation of the space and needing to stage entrances and exits through the audience. However, the mix of information and drama here worked well together and was incredibly enjoyable to watch unfold.
My overall impression
An affectionate tribute and insightful examination on how the trend of VHS / DVD rental stores shaped a generation, the play balances nostalgia & heartfelt character studies to explore the value of tradition & ritual. Even if it’s something as simple as renting a movie.
