The Other Place by Sharr White
A Christy Webb Production

Dates and Venue 26 June – 5 July 2014, 8pm | PAL Studio Theatre, 8th floor, 581 Cardero Street

Reviewer Ed Farolan

New York playwright Sharr White’s award-winning The Other Place made its Canadian Premiere performance at the PAL Studio Theatre in Vancouver last June 28th.The play features a theme that touches many seniors: Alzheimers Disease.

Research scientist Juliana Smithton (Chilton Crane) during a lecture to colleagues at an exclusive beach resort in the Caribbean, sees an enigmatic young woman in a yellow bikini amidst the crowd. As the plot unravels, we see contradictory evidence--truth, fantasy, and fragmented memories of  a cottage, "the other place" on the shores of Cape Cod. "The Other Place" has a double entendre in this play: the physicl place in Cape Cod and that place in our mind that goes awry.

In Juliana's mind, her husband Ian (Daryl Shuttleworth) has filed for divorce, her daughter (Avery Crane) has eloped with a much older man and her own health is in jeopardy. Nothing is as it seems. Piece by piece, the mystery unfolds as fact and fiction are blurred, past and present are mixed together, and finally, we find out at the end who that woman in a yellow bikini is as the truth surfaces.

Chilton Crane did an excellent job in her portrayal of Juliana. Likewise, Shuttleworth acted superbly as her husband. Avery Crane did a fantastic job playing three roles: the daughter, the doctor, and another woman.Nick Hunnings in a supporting role as Juliana's Nurse, Richard, and The Man did well as different backup characters. The cast deserved a warm applause and a standing ovation during curtain call. .

This is a must-see play, as the actors are outstanding. Kudos to Director/Producer Christy Webb and her staff for a well-presented production. She spoke briefly after the show and asked for donations for the Alzheimers Society of Vancouver.

© 2014 Ed Farolan