NLPT and Access Theater present

STRANGE COUNTRY

Access Theater
380 Broadway
NY NY
21 July-16 August 2016

Written by: Anne Adams
Directed by: Jay Stull

Featuring: Bethany Geraghty, Vanessa Vaché, Sidney Williams

There are rules about not getting romantically involved while in rehab. It is a big no-no: distracting from the rehab process and setting partners up for a fall that could seriously damage the success of the treatment. However, who can better understand an addict than an addict?

Tiffany is the strong sister in a highly dysfunctional family. After many tumultuous years, her highly strung mother is trying to stabilize the family by renewing her vows with her husband. Tiffany’s job is to convince her brother Darryl to join the festivities. Her brother, however, is deeply depressed. He spends all day and night drinking. He rarely eats. And he hasn’t forgiven his father for threatening him with a gun the last time they spoke (fought). Vanessa Vaché’s Tiffany is a terrific bully. She pushes, cajoles, threatens and insists. Vaché keeps Tiffany from being completely obnoxious with her sexy swagger, charm and Anne Adams’ clever dialogue. It is hard to hate a character who calls people Gumdrop as she berates them.

Sidney Williams brings his own kind of charm to the slobbish, unmotivated Darryl. Underneath his bitterness and fog is a warm intelligence just begging to come out and play.

Tiffany’s girlfriend, Jamie (Bethany Geraghty) is the catalyst that gets everyone even more riled up. A recovering alcoholic being held together by Tiffany’s force of will, Geraghty shows a pathetic vulnerability that in the long run isn’t helped by Tiffany’s steamroller.

When Jamie and Darryl get past their initial distrust and open themselves up to each other, something miraculous happens. Is it real? Can two deeply wounded souls give each other strength by connecting or is it just their addictions talking? Who knows? Anne Adams keeps us guessing, and ou won’t stop thinking about these people as you leave the theater. The extraordinary cast makes you long to know more about this trio of misfits.

- Jean Tait -