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Regional Reviews: Phoenix The Memory of Water Also see Gil's review of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
The plot unfolds as three sisters, Teresa, Mary, and Catherine, who all have different personalities, gather in their childhood home after the death of their mother Vi to prepare for her funeral. Taking place entirely in Vi's bedroom, memories and tensions bubble to the surface and long-held secrets are revealed. With Vi's ghost occasionally appearing, the siblings clash over their differing recollections of childhood, unresolved resentments, and the burden of expectations while each woman confronts the memories that shaped her. Written in 1996, Stephenson's script is an interesting analysis of a dysfunctional family that depicts how our perceptions of our parents and memories of shared events can be perceived very differently or even distorted by family members. Anyone with siblings will find these moments, where one sister will talk about something that happened in the past only to have another sister correct her to tell her that's not how it happened, realistic and impactful. The presence of Vi's ghost, who offers her own version of the past, adds a surreal element that's intriguing but not always well integrated into the overall trajectory of the play. There are also some issues with the tone of the piece as, while the script sets up several moments of real emotional depth, it too often shifts abruptly between comedy and drama, making it difficult to fully engage with either. Also, the title is somewhat confusing as it refers to how water can remember the substances that it has come in contact with, but when the memories of the three sisters are often contradictory with each other I'm not quite certain what Stephenson is getting at. Despite the play's inconsistencies, the trio of actresses playing the sisters are uniformly excellent. As Teresa, Andrea Hough captures the exhaustion and frustration of being the responsible sibling with subtle precision. As Mary, a successful doctor, Cindy Pruett is the calm exterior that gradually crumbles to reveal long-held pain and secrets. Rachel Weiss is a firecracker as Catherine, the youngest and most chaotic, who is in constant motion with a raw energy but also masking deep insecurities. Together, the three navigate their tangled relationships with sensitivity and genuine chemistry, making their scenes feel authentic and their relationships with each other emotionally grounded. Carol Bennett's portrayal of Vi is strong, bringing a mixture of charm, confusion, and maternal regret to her spectral appearances. In supporting roles, Christopher Dorto and Tom Koelbel play two of the sister's partners, adding further layers of tension, confusion and uncertainty. Janis Webb's direction keeps the pacing crisp while allowing space for the play's more introspective and emotionally charged moments to resonate. She does a fairly good job navigating the shifting tones while the staging emphasizes both the physical and emotional distance between characters. The creative elements are strong. Mark Baris' single set of Vi's bedroom, while large, feels authentic and lived-in, while Stacey Walston's lighting subtly underscores shifts in memory and time of day, and Richard (Mickey) Courtney's costumes are character appropriate. The Memory of Water at Theatre Artists Studio offers strong, grounded performances, especially from its leading trio, but it struggles under the weight of an uneven script. It's a moving piece in moments, humorous at times, and a compelling reminder of how memory can shape not only our understanding of the past but also our relationships in the present, but as a whole, it doesn't leave as lasting an impression as I'd hope it would. The Memory of Water runs through May 18, 2025, at Theatre Artists Studio, 4848 East Cactus Road, Scottsdale AZ. For tickets and information, please visit www.TheStudioPHX.org or call 602-765-0120 Director: Janis Webb Cast: (in order of appearance) |
