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Regional Reviews: Phoenix The Comeuppance Also see Gil's reviews of Songs for a New World, Frozen and Crazy for You and The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord
Set in 2022, the plot follows six former high school friends who reunite for their 20th class reunion, gathering at Ursula's home before the event. They catch up, swap stories, and relive old times, but their cheerful banter quickly reveals cracks beneath the surface. Old grudges, unresolved feelings, and questions about how much they've changed, or haven't changed, rise to the surface. There is also the notion that one's memories of things in the past may not be as they seem, or that others may be choosing to remember bad events from the past in a happier way. Always hovering over all of it is a reminder of mortality, as the character of Death itself occasionally steps into the narrative, moving from character to character, using each one as a vessel to speak to us, while watching and commenting on the choices each person has made. Stray Cat previously presented Jacobs-Jenkins' office-set drama, Gloria, and he just won the Pulitzer Prize and Tony for Purpose, while his play Appropriate also had a successful Broadway run and won the Tony for Best Revival. All of his plays feature distinct characters, intriguing situations, and thought-provoking themes. Both Gloria and Appropriate will be presented by other theatre companies in town this season. In The Comeuppance, what starts as a lighthearted evening of reminiscing turns into something much more layered and poignant, and Jacobs-Jenkins uses the reunion setting as a way to explore weighty themes with a skillful touch. The play wrestles with ideas of friendship, regret, accountability, and the ways in which the past never fully leaves us, no matter how much we try to brush it away. Jacobs-Jenkins also mentions horrible or challenging events that these millennial characters have had to live through during their high school and young adult years that shaped who they are while also impacting the choices they made, including Columbine and 9/11 when they were in high school, and the Trump administration and the COVID pandemic in the years right before the reunion. Fittingly, one character makes note that their parents and grandparents lived through all of those stressful situations and more. There are also undercurrents of mortality, legacy, and the lingering question of how we want to be remembered, and what parts of ourselves we are willing to confront and change for the better before it's too late. Under Seth Tucker's smart direction, the ensemble cast makes the journey and exploration of the characters feel honest and immediate, delivering performances that are deeply authentic. Tucker's staging and the performances make it seem as if we're overhearing real friends navigating the uneasy blend of joy, reflection, lingering regrets, buried resentments, and the ways life has shaped them in unexpected ways. As Emilio, who arrives to Ursula's home with the weight of old memories and unresolved feelings, Tanner J. Conley is giving an earnest and layered performance. Emilio is wrestling with old wounds while trying to reconcile who he once was with who he has become while also trying not to see his friends repeat their mistakes of the past. Tanner is great in the role. Michelle Luz is excellent as Caitlin, the woman who once dated an upperclassman who was a relative of one of this group of friends in high school, and has since moved on to a very different life, filled with unhappiness and regret. Luz does a wonderful job depicting a woman who finds herself caught between nostalgia and reality. As Ursula, the woman who tries to keep the group in check, Iris Huey brings both bite and vulnerability. Ursula recently lost vision in one of her eyes due to diabetes and masks her insecurities with occasional sarcasm. Willa Eigo is a fireball as Kristine, the brash and direct woman who has a stressful life as a doctor and just wants one night to let loose. As Paco (Francisco), the man who dated Caitlin in high school, Phillip Herrington infuses a combination of charm and humor along with deeper moments of regret and reflection. As Simon, the friend who wasn't able to make the reunion and that we only hear on the phone, Noah Delgado injects a thoughtful presence into his voiceovers that give clarity to his thoughts and feelings. While it's a thought-provoking piece, there are a few small quibbles I have with the play and this production. The main character of Emilio is written as a tad insufferable and unlikable. While we understand he's trying to remind his friends of the truths of the past and hope they don't make the same mistakes again, we never know exactly what happened regarding a few unresolved situations, which makes some of Emilio's actions and outbursts seem petty or just mean-spirited. Also, while the cast is great and Tucker's decision to bring the action off the Tempe Center for the Arts Studio stage by placing Ursula's yard in what is traditionally the first few rows of seats, which adds intimacy to the production, there are some times when actors have their backs to us or could project more in order for their lines to be better heard. This is a play where language and the words that are said are incredibly important. Fortunately, Eric Beek's set design is superb, evoking a realistic yard in a small Maryland home. Pete Bish's sound and the props by Dolores E. Mendoza add authenticity to the production, as do the character-specific costume designs by Jessie Tully. Stacey Walston's lighting is excellent, providing the perfect touch, along with Bish's sound, for the otherworldly moments when Death speaks to the audience. With a smart, moving script and a cast that fully invests in its characters, Stray Cat's production of The Comeuppance is both humorous and heartbreaking. It may leave you reflecting on your own life choices and the realization that we aren't here for an infinite amount of time, so we need to treat each other better and ensure that those we love do not repeat mistakes, just as we do our best to do the same. Stray Cat Theatre's The Comeuppance runs through October 11, 2025, at Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe AZ. For tickets and information, please call 480-227-1766 or visit straycattheatre.org. Director: Seth Tucker Cast: |
