Continuing their committment to original work and local writers, AUI shines a spotlight on the voices of writers over 50 in "PG-50, a triple bill of one-acts that explore life, love and memories of those of us who aren't kids anymore. As a whole, the show is a successful showcase for three emerging local writers, and while the pieces have varying levels of theatrical success, there's a satisfying takeaway from the evening as a whole, and the show is a positive addition to the local theatre scene.
The curtain-raiser 'Wet Dreams," by local storyteller and writer Sally Donlon, looks back at her childhood in downtown Lafayette through two connected tales. The piece is filled with some sharply observed details, some warm-hearted nostalgia for locals and a funny recollection of "bat whomping" that was the highlight of the piece. But "Wet Dreams" succeeds more as memoir than theatre, and would likely be more successful read than performed.
Mitu Dasgupta's solo piece "Harry" raises the bar for the evening. It tells the story of a woman reconnecting with an old flame and the imaginary husband, Harry, she created years before to gently let this flame chase another woman. It's a clever take on a familiar convention, and it's got its share of zingy one-liners and clever comic twists. But what really resonates is the broken heart beneath the comedy -- a woman looking back on her tough choices that have left her single in her 50s -- and the piece's gentle examination of regret. Inside "Harry" is a larger piece of theatre, one that fleshes out these currently unseen characters and situations in its solo form. But even in its solo form, "Harry" entertains.
"Sex, Lies and Social Security," the evening's final and longest piece by Patrica Drury Sidman, is perhaps the most successful. Charting the budding online romance between a pair of would-be lovers past their 50s not only succeeds as a love story, but scores as a commentary on modern relationships and the challenges of discovering them in an online world. The biggest laughs come from the online dating section of the piece -- particulary the sharply observed absurdity of some online personal ads -- and Drury and Bob Sidman (playing marginally fictionalized versions of themselves) perform them with honesty and panache. The piece is ultimately a sweet and affecting story of taking the risks required for love instead of choosing the safety of being alone, and that's something everyone can take to heart.
What makes PG-50 such an intriguing entry in local theatre isn't the strength of the individual pieces, but the cumulative affect of them all. The worlds and experiences of the characters in these three worlds aren't the usual fare for theatres, and there's something satisfying about hearing voices you don't otherwise hear. What's most reassuring (and the evening's most powerful take-away for me) is the idea that at any age, the challenge of just getting through the day is the same -- our regrets, our passions, our insecurities, our dreams and our connections to home are ageless things. Kudos to AUI and the company of artists in "PG-50" for showing us that truth through a different lens.
---Cody Daigle
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