A collection of short plays centered around grief may not sound like a particularly joyful evening of theatre. But not only was I pleasantly surprised by how much joy there was to be had at the Whiskey Theatre Factory’s Party to Grief but by how far above par the piece was punching in terms of its writing, acting, and overall effectiveness.
The first key to this “party’s” success is likely how well-curated it is, especially as compared to the many similarly structured productions I’ve seen in this night-of-short-plays style that make the mistake of including too much material.
Here, rather than risk stretching artist capacity and audience patience by overcrowding their “guest list, ” director Krystal Glover and assistant directors Gabriella Headley and Jena Rashid make the wise decision to limit the show’s focus to five scripts and one poem.
In a similarly wise choice, they also limit the show’s cast to seven actors, who are double and triple cast amongst the six pieces. This gives the show’s talented performers more time to shine and likely makes for a stronger overall ensemble than could have been assembled if each role had been cast individually.
As the opening play, Do You Remember? by Jodi Antenor is also an exquisite choice. Short and sweet, it tells its simple story effectively in a way that packs a huge emotional punch. Joshua Lee Fulmer is a captivating presence as the play’s narrator and Alden McDonald and Weston Allen Kemp do a fine job of creating the relationship between their two central characters.
It’s followed by On Track by Katie Thayer, a two-hander for actors Komal Patel and Roma Zizza that maintains an impressively light tone despite dealing with some quite dark themes. To avoid spoiling any of its reveals, Thayer makes the most of a wacky premise that easily could have derailed many lesser writers and delivers a great script overall, if perhaps one with a little too pat an ending. As a manic-pixie-dream girl type character, Zizza’s infectious energy gives the play much of its propulsive spark, and together she and Patel have great comedic chemistry that helps make this piece a clear highlight of the act.
Fragments of a Woman’s Heart by Ashley Alonso takes a more impressionistic approach as Patel, Mcdonald, and Joscelyn Alisha Rivera appear as different aspects of the titular woman, with Kemp also appearing as a man whose comings and goings make a profound impact on her life.
Party to Grief by Katie Thayer, the last play in the act, takes us back down to earth with a slice-of-life style piece taking place at a party. Zizza appears again as another character with a larger than life vibe as Joscelyn Alisha Rivera gives a more grounded performance as a woman struggling to come to terms with a recent loss.
The majority of Act 2’s running time is occupied by Remains by Bethany Dickens Assaf— the longest, most emotionally complex, and probably best-written piece of the bunch.
The play gradually reveals the true nature of the relationship between its two main characters, who initially seem to be meeting for the first time. To avoid giving too much away, actors Audra Darbyshire and Joshua Lee Fulmer ably handle the complexity of this relationship without making any of the reveals obvious.
Darbyshire shows particular skill in creating Alice’s in-control exterior and then letting us see the cracks in her facade, and Fulmer in winning the audience over with his character’s goofy charm. Zizza nails a third role as an enthusiastic barista who becomes enmeshed in the couple’s bizarre dynamic, and Kemp is an absolute scene stealer as a wealthy sleazeball who complicates matters further by vying for Alice’s affection.
A closing poem (Raise Your Glass by Jodi Antenor) ties a nice thematic and visual bow on the proceedings by uniting the performers in a celebratory toast. As suggested during the pre-show speech, you could make this extra fun by buying a drink from the bar at intermission if you feel like toasting along.
Whether you opt for an adult beverage or not, this Party to Grief from the Whiskey Theatre Factory is a delightful evening of theatre that lives up to the company’s spirited name. It’s also some of the best-produced and best-written new work I’ve come across in my two years of exploring the Orlando theatre scene, and it will be playing for only two more performances on February 20th and 21st!
REMAINING PERFORMANCES AND TICKET INFO:
Tickets available here for $20 (general) or $15 (students and seniors).
Performances at Imagine Performing Arts Center (1220 Oviedo Mall Blvd. Oviedo, FL 32765)
February 20th, 7 pm
February 21st, 7 pm
FULL CREDITS
PLAYWRIGHTS:
Ashley Alonso
Jodi Antenor
Bethany Dickens Assaf
Katie Thayer
PRODUCTION TEAM:
Director – Krystal Glover
Assistant Directors – Gabriella Headley and Jena Rashid
Stage Manager – Meghan Pratt
Lighting Design – Emerson Short
PERFORMERS:
Audra Darbyshire
Joshua Lee Fulmer
Weston Allen Kemp
Alden McDonald
Komal Patel
Joscelyn Alisha Rivera
Roma Zizza