By TR Robertson Photos by Daren Scott
One thing is sure, for anyone attending Carlsbad’s New Village Arts production of “The Roommate”, you will leave the theatre amused, shaking your head with a “I didn’t see that coming” feeling. This wonderfully performed dark comedy features two award winning actresses that are perfectly cast in their roles. Written by award winning novelist, poet, playwright and screenwriter Jen Silverman, the play first appeared as part of the 2015 Humana Festival of New American Plays at the Actors Theatre of Louisville. A clever description of “The Roommate”, from a Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park performance, said the play is like “The Odd Couple meets Breaking Bad”.
The play takes place in a home in Iowa City, owned by a 50+, newly divorced Sharon who was seeking a roommate, having selected a 50+ woman, Robyn, a woman with a questionable background. Sharon, played by Milena Sellers Phillips, is talkative, fidgety, anxious, and somewhat naive. Robyn, played by Kim Strassburger, is seeking a new start, a former New Yorker from the Bronx, a tad mysterious about her past and a bit withdrawn. As the play unfolds, Sharon will begin to find out more and more about Robyn, much of it completely beyond the world she has known. Sharon’s biggest activity is her Book Club and phoning her son, who lives in New York. The world Robyn slowly opens up to Sharon includes her being a vegetarian, a slam poet, a potter, liking to grow things and not having a lot of patience. She also admits she just wants to start over. Sharon admits she can’t grow anything and also doesn’t have a lot of patience. She tells Sharon “Everybody wants to start over, to burn it all down”. Robyn admits there is “great liberty being bad”. As these two get to know one another better, Sharon discovers Robyn likes to smoke “medicinal herbs” and introduces Sharon to “weed”. Along the way, nosy Sharon will discover Robyn has many identities, was involved with phone scams of the elderly, sold drugs, even took part in auto theft and has a daughter that use to assist her. All of this “bad girl” image intrigues Sharon to the point of her talking Robyn into teaching her the fine art of many of her “bad girl” deeds. Both Robyn and Sharon will grow closer as they begin to explore changes they think they need in their lives and as they take deeper looks into their relationship with their children. The ending will surprise many, especially as Sharon comes to the realization that “Sometimes there is great liberty in being bad”.
The key to this play is the amazing timing, presentation and performance by these two award winning actresses. Milena Seller Phillips is incredible as the fast talking, nervous, naïve Sharon. Kim Strassburger is equally incredible as the quiet, calm, secretive Robyn. These two together are perfect foils for one another, blending their performances into an artistic dance on stage.
Director of Education for NVA Samantha Ginn directs the play. Her Creative Team includes Stage Manager Alex Hajjar, Assistant Stage Manager Joe Prete, Costume Designer Katrina DeRoche, Lighting Designer Annelise Salazar, Co-Sound Designer Marcus Rico, Scenic Designer Christopher Scott Murrilo, Props Designer Andrea Moriarty, Intimacy Director Kandace Crystal and Production Manager Nathan Waits. Kudos to Scenic Designer Christopher Scott Muuilo and Props Designer Andrea Moriarty for the nicely designed set of Sharon’s kitchen and entrance areas.
“The Roommate” will be on the Dea Hurston New Village Arts Theatre stage until April 23rd. Tickets are available by calling 760-284-4393 or online at www.newvillagearts.org.
