Let’s Make It makes Pinch ‘N’ Ouch
Written and Directed by the man behind Pinch ‘N’ Ouch Theatre Company, Grant McGowen, Let’s Make It not only tugs this theatre company into the place it belongs, but also shows that sometimes being original is all you need to do that.
The play contains two characters, Anessa (Heather Rule) and Brandon (Barrett Doyle), in one apartment. They are young, married and still trying to make it in their creative careers. Anessa is an actress on the cusp of her big break. Indie film after indie film and roles that require her to take it off and turn it on fill her resume. Brandon, a screenwriter, is waiting for someone to take note of his work in between filling up disappointed minutes with booze and marijuana. We begin watching them at a moment where they are still supportive, caring and not yet at the point of holding grudges and placing blame.
It’s a love story, but an honest one. If you are looking for a play that will cause you to walk away feeling nothing but gushes of cuddles and hugs, this is not your show. On the other hand if you want a realistic look at what it means to choose, to divulge into whether you really can have it all, and touch on all the unfairness that we put each other through, then yeah, this is it. It’s a powerful show, almost to the point of being uncomfortable at times, but after all the screaming, scheming and secret keeping and telling, it rounds out back to two people who love each other no matter their demise.
The actors both held up to the content and the intensified emotional state that the majority of the play stayed in till the end. By far the accolades for best performance go to Heather Rule who from beginning to finish had a presence on stage that you feel like you were peeping into someone’s windows and watching their feud, night after night, month after month. And although you wanted to turn away, her honesty kept you watching to see who would say uncle first. Barrett Doyle, even with a very stage aware beginning and feeling a little stiff and stock at first, warmed up to and made his way onto the same peg as Rule as the show progressed.
I have seen Pinch ‘N’ Ouch produce theater classics by playwright greats that felt good enough, but still had a used quality to the them. But now that original and debut material has been put to stage, I would suggest never going back to the oldies.
Let’s Make It is running at Pinch ‘N’ Ouch till March 2. For information about the show and company visit, www.pnotheatre.org.