Theatrius
  • Now Playing
  • All Reviews
  • Writers
  • Reflections
  • Millennial Notes
  • Join Us
  • About Us
  • Search Icon

Theatrius

Theater Reviews—San Francisco and Beyond

“Smithtown” Awakes Us to Tech Tragedy—Streaming Key West

“Smithtown” Awakes Us to Tech Tragedy—Streaming Key West

February 16, 2021 Patricia L. Morin

Drew Larimore Masterfully Exposes Perils of Social Media

by Patricia L. Morin

Like a falling line of dominoes, the four dynamic monologues of “Smithtown” unfold events that destroy a young girl’s life. The tightly written emotional scenes from The Studios of Key West highlight media-savvy citizens who fall prey to their own self-interest.

Playwright Drew Larimore creates four distinct personalities who explode the happy-face myths of Facebook and Twitter. Starting with a clueless and selfish graduate student, Larimore moves to the giggling, self-important app-creator of “Text Angel.”

Then we meet the grinning, smug “radical” video artist at “Smithtown Heritage Center.” And lastly, a distressed mother who, ironically, turns to Facebook for consolation.

Michael Urie (Ian A. Bernstein). Photos: The Studios of Key West

Grad student Ian A. Bernstein (dynamic Michael Urie) is teaching “Ethics in Technology” at Smithtown College. With his upbeat, ingratiating personality, he welcomes us into his class. I feel eager to listen and learn. Holding up his ‘smart’ phone, he reminds us that “The device is a weapon.”  We learn, through Bernstein, how texts can weaponize thoughts and feelings to shatter an innocent life.

With a screen-wide smile, Urie neatly peels away his emotions, uncovering Ian Bernstein’s “real life” involvement in “revenge porn.” From cavalier to anger to somber, Urie holds us in Ian’s revelations. Although Ian feels no responsibility, we realize the horror of his impulsive actions.

Sweet and funny Bonnie (versatile Ann Herada) runs “Text Angel,” an app that sends motivational texts to clients who need a kind word or call to action. In a basement under construction, Bonnie stays buzzed on Mocha Java. But she’s tired, and accidently switches texts, adding another domino to the cascading catastrophe. She excuses herself with: “Sends—a text message–are not always to blame.” Like Ian, Bonnie hides behind feeble excuses.

Ann Harada (Bonnie + Mocha Java)

Do they feel remorse, or are they seeking cover? It’s happens to many of us. We send a text, just a thought, a note, a negative response out of annoyance or anger. Maybe we even let off steam, vent, like politicians On Line. It’s impulsive, and can lead to disaster all round.

Director Stephen Kitsakos develops each character’s uniqueness. By adding diversity to the drama, he delivers a dynamic psychological play complete with suspense and climax.

Eager Eugene (humorous Colby Lewis) smiles broadly in front of the “Smithtown Heritage Center.” As the center’s ‘Jack of All Trades,’ Eugene claims that his art-video of the disaster “will show the truthfulness of the human condition.”

Eugene is justifying yet another horrendous choice, drawing us in with his welcoming smile and “artistic” philosophy: “If you stop recording a struggle to help those struggling, you lose the depth of their struggle.” His misleading ideas about “objectivity” lead to ignoring an imminent tragedy.

Constance Shulman (Cindy)

Lastly, we meet Cindy, the distressed mother (exceptional Constance Shulman), who performs the most heart-rending monologue. In her shiny red 50s Formica kitchen, Cindy unspins her sad story to neighbors. In her never-ending anguish, she even turns to Facebook “Friends.”

“Smithtown” spotlights the dangerous carelessness of tech world attacks and conversations, reminding us that impulsive texts can destroy lives. A must see for the precision acting and its revelations on social responsibility.

 

“Smithtown” by Drew Larimore, directed by Stephen Kitsaka, at The Studios of Key West—Streaming at TSKW.org – till March 13, 2021.

Cast: Michael Urie, Ann Harada, Colby Lewis, and Constance Shulman.

Banner photo: Colby Lewis (Eugene). Photos: The Studios of Key West.


on-line, Plays
Civil Rights, comedy, exploitation, Family, feminism, friendship, Identity, justice, love, patriarchy, power, Satire, sex, social class, Tech, wit, Women's Rights, workers

Post navigation

NEXT
“Binding Ties” Shines Migrant Stories on Rail Station—Streaming Oakland
PREVIOUS
“Fairfield” Elementary Unhinged over Black History—Streaming The Pear
Comments are closed.

Menu

  • Now Playing
  • All Reviews
  • Writers
  • Reflections
  • Millennial Notes
  • Join Us
  • About Us

BLM

Black Lives Matter

Subscribe for upcoming reviews!
Loading

Current Shows

  • “Slow Food”: Three Superb Actors Serve Up Quick Laughs—at Altarena
  • “The Indigo Room” Magically Translates Indigenous Stories—at La MaMa, N.Y.
  • “The Never Too Late Show”: Tales of Hilarious Homeboy in Hollywood—at The Marsh
  • “Poetic Justice” Exalts Passionate Modern Poets—at The Marsh
  • “As You Like It”: Weaves Past & Future in Magical Forest—at SF Playhouse
  • “Beetlejuice, The Musical” Parties Hard and Fast—at BroadwaySF
  • “Hailie!” Celebrates the Queen of Gospel’s Triumphs—at Lorraine Hansberry
  • “Little Shop of Horrors”: Killer Plant Blooms in Chinatown—at TheatreWorks
  • “Ham for the Holidays” Lightens the Heart—at Main Stage West 
  • “Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski” Is Unforgettable—at Berkeley Rep
  • “A Year with Frog and Toad”: Episodes of Woodland Friendship—at BACT
  • “Shoshana in December”: A Holiday Musical for Jews & Polyamors—at Custom Made
  • “Wuthering Heights” Takes Us from Darkness to Light—at Berkeley Rep
  • “Natasha, Pierre & Great Comet of 1812”: A Musical Triumph—at Shotgun
  • “Two Trains Running” Celebrates Civil Rights Era Black Bravery—at MTC

About us:

If you want to see the best plays & performances around the San Francisco Bay or beyond, read our reviews. We promise to give you a true report on the best shows.
Bay Area Critics Circle

Barry David Horwitz, Editor of Theatrius, is a Voting Member of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics' Circle, SFBATCC. Follow us on: facebook.com

© 2023   All Rights Reserved.