The new play
A Lesson in Love is a really sweet and funny (and a little bit heartbreaking) romcom that ultimately is not about the love between two specific people, but about being open to love in general, in all its forms. It's beautifully and cleverly written by #TCTheater artist Nubia Monks,
whom I know primarily as an incredibly talented singer and actor, in a way that feels real and grounded. With complete, complex, and lived-in performances by the two-person cast, and simple yet elegant design,
A Lesson in Love feels like a little bit of a balm to a weary world. It may make you forget about all of the hate and fear that pervades our world, and remember what is possible with love. At least for 75 minutes or so.
See it at Pillsbury House + Theatre now through October 19.
The majority of the play takes place during one long Lyft drive across L.A., when Monique's (Dana Lee Thompson) ex David (Darrick Mosley) shows up to drive her to a date. They haven't seen each other in two years since their painful break-up, so the drive is... awkward. We know what each is thinking thanks to voiceovers of recorded text (with both actors doing a great job of letting the emotions play over their faces), which gives us some background on their story. We also see flashbacks of their meeting in a bar and other pivotal moments in their relationship, both good and bad. They come to some sort of understanding, or maybe even closure, by the end of the ride. The final scene in the play jumps forward a year, and we see how that Lyft drive changed their lives, in unexpected ways.
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in the Lyft (Dana Lee Thompson and Darrick Mosley)
(photo by Bruce Silcox) |
The play is framed by lectures from Monique to her class, teaching her students (which in this case are us, the audience) how to write poetry about love. She leads us through a couple exercises, which are a bit awkward but also kind of lovely. We then jump into the story, and a couple times back to class. All of this is clear and smooth thanks to the cleverly written script and the direction by
former #TCTheater artist Jamil Jude, now Artistic Director of a theater in Atlanta, who lucky for us still comes back to town every now and then to share his talents. The classroom scenes, the Lyft drive, and the flashback and all beautifully woven together. And if you think watching two people ride in a car sounds boring, you are wrong; in Jamil's hands it's dynamic and interesting. The actors are sitting in rolling chairs in the configuration of driver and right-side backseat passenger, but they move around the stage (which is painted with traffic lines), turning, passing, stopping, in a way that creates interest and plays to all areas of the wide audience. Both Darrick and Dana are so natural in these roles, with a really believable chemistry between them that wavers between tension and attraction, that's a lot of fun to watch.
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| Darrick Mosley and Dana Lee Thompson (photo by Bruce Silcox) |
The costumes are really chic, which isn't surprising coming from costume designer Trevor Bowen. Dana wears two unique dresses that look so gorgeous on her I hope she gets to keep them, and Darrick is better dressed than any Lyft driver I've seen, in a casual chic outfit, changing into a sharp suit for the final scene. The backdrop is a collage of black and white photos of Dana and/or Darrick that, if they're not actual photos from their real lives in the last 5-10 years, someone did a fantastic job making them look as if they were. This adds a level of reality and history to this fictional relationship. The minimal set includes a couple of small stands with toiletries as the two get ready for their dates, and a few other well-chosen set pieces as needed. The recorded voiceovers of the characters inner thoughts are seamlessly woven into the live performance. (Scenic design by William Boles, props design by Jenny Moeller, lighting design by Ellie Simonett, sound design by Queen Drea.)
If you're looking for a great new modern romcom, that's light and funny but still deals with the complexities of life and relationships, with a hopeful yet not clichéd ending,
don't miss the aptly named A Lesson in Love.
