16 September 2010 Talking with…
In ‘Talking With,’ which opens tonight at Birmingham Festival Theatre, eleven women of different ages and backgrounds tell their stories. Ranging from light-hearted to tragic, each story unfolds in a way that puts the audience right in the middle of the situation. There are few shows which use props to such visceral effect. Written by the pseudonymous Jane Martin, the play expertly avoids becoming too sugary, too inaccessible, or too repetitive. Each segment presents a unique narrative with its own heart and complexities.
The cast of eleven actresses is so strong; it’s difficult to single out any stand out performers. Directed by Chris Larson, this is likely the most consistent cast I’ve seen on the Birmingham stage. In a play that almost invites one-sided misinterpretations [if done incorrectly of course], they never falter, effortlessly communicating the emotional resonance of each piece.
For me, Talking With served as a kind of reminder that there is more to life than what we see. A cliche, maybe, but truth nonetheless. It is so easy to disregard the small, the mundane, the beautiful and to be distracted by the expectations of life. Talking With reminds us that the real experiences in life are sometimes found simply in the haunting sound of a rolling marble, the ethereal spinning of a baton, or the warming glow of a lamp.
Talking With runs from 9/16 to 10/2 at Birmingham Festival Theatre [in Five Points behind Golden Temple]. LINK.
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