A Post Pandemic Fantasy

Morning, Noon and Night

Back in March of 2020, just six years ago, the World Health Organization officially declared the dangerous and highly infectious COVID-19 outbreak to be a worldwide disease. During the pandemic, people were sequestered in their homes and, whenever going out anywhere, were required to wear a mask.Travel came to a standstill. Schools closed and at home learning became the new normal. Class discussions and town hall meetings were held via computer. As a result, the internet became our best friend, as social interaction and work meetings took place during Zoom calls. Online shopping and home delivery of takeout meals became the new way of life. In short, we were physically cut off from each another. 

Eventually, and thankfully, a vaccine was developed to immunize people against the disease. Once folks began lining up to get their injections against COVID, individuals were supplied written documentation of their inoculation. These medical records were required for entrance to anywhere other people were gathered.      

Then, three years later, the WHO declared that the danger had finally been contained. The pandemic was now officially over. Mask-wearing changed from a mandate to a personal preference, and school, theaters, restaurants, bars and stores finally reopened. Life, as we once knew it, seemed to be heading back to normal. But people were left with emotional scars and trauma with which everyone had to now deal. For some individuals, especially the younger generation, their eyes had been opened to reality. Teenagers, in particular, began to worry about ecology and the future of this planet, and they lay the blame solely on the older generation.

During the shutdown, our connection with family and friends became very important and more profound. In addition,  our relationship with technology grew even stronger and became ubiquitous. The seemingly futuristic development of Artificial Intelligence left the realm of science fiction and became a reality. 

In Kirsten Greenidge’s MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT, now enjoying its Midwest Premiere at Shattered Globe Theatre, we get a bizarre comedy that’s also a post-pandemic fantasy. In this rapid-fire story that’s filled with fast-paced dialogue and fresh, intelligent characters, Ms. Greenidge provides 95 uninterrupted minutes of fun. Her play is a veritable flight of fancy and imagination for theatergoers.

The comedy focuses on a mother and daughter who, since the pandemic ended, find themselves inhabiting an apartment that’s filled with an unimaginable amount of clutter. The overwhelming detritus reflects months of ordering from Amazon and Uber Eats. Boxes, bags and a variety of clothing are scattered everywhere and stacked high. For several reasons, Mia’s eldest daughter, Alex, has moved away and refused contact with both her mother and her younger sister, Dailyn. But today is Alex’s birthday and Dailyn is hoping that the special occasion will finally bring the three women together again.

Among many, many other themes and ideas explored in Kirsten Greenidge’s play, including fear, frustration, uncertainty and various kinds of loss, she focuses on how cell phones and computers have taken over our lives. In a fantastic chain of events, Dailyn, with the help of her high school friend, Nat, has created an AI Happy Homemaker to help Mia get it together. They secretly bring this electronically created lady to life to help her mother declutter the apartment and her entire world. Ms. Greenidge explores how technology has absolutely exploded and made consumerism grow beyond control, and this clutter is the result.

The one-act is full of unexpected humor and quirky characters, especially Miss Candice, the fantasy figure created to help Mia return to an ordered life. But the play’s also overstuffed with too many themes to explore and ideas to embellish. The story becomes far too heavy with material, eventually imbalanced with far too many subjects and schemes.

Directed by Amber Montgomery, this play is a foxy and fast-paced fantasy. All the characters feel fully realized and, especially Miss Candice, provide lots of laughs at the oddest moments. Kristin E. Ellis gives a fine performance as Mia, an overwhelmed, overworked mother just trying to plan a fun girls’ night birthday celebration for her two daughters. Emefa Dzodzomenyo is believable and very good as Dailyn, Mia’s anxious and often excitable teenage daughter. The young girl’s especially bothered about the fate of the world, as depicted on the internet, but which doesn’t seem to be of concern to anyone else. 

As Dailyn’s two besties, Soren Jimmie Williams is especially funny as Chloe, a student who wants everything in her life to be perfect. And Hannah Antman’s portrayal of Nat, a manic high school student who’s ready to help repair and fix everything, is hilarious and spot-on. Christina  Gorman is excellent as Mia’s best adult friend, Heather. She’s a woman whose germ phobia has driven Heather to be obsessed with health and physical fitness. In spite of these fixations, Heather always tries to be available to lend a helping hand to her friend.

But the strongest and most delightfully memorable character in this play is Miss Candice.  She’s played with sparkle and sunshine by a buoyant and beautifully costumed and coiffed Leslie Ann Sheppard. She portrays this internet image-come-to-life as a cheerful and optimistic 1950’s housewife, with perfect hair, makeup, teeth and a flawless, crinoline-starched frock. 

We first meet the happy-go-lucky lady on the internet clips, projected all over Jackie Fox’s junk-filled set. Ms. Fox has also designed dazzling lighting that not only illuminates, but is exciting and fantasy-filled. Persephone Lawrence Wescott adds to the set detritus with a nightmare of assorted props. And Abboye Lawrence has done a monumental job in designing an overwhelming abundance of projections for this production. At one point, Miss Candice unfolds a handkerchief for Mia, and on it a projected image magically appears! 

Despite playwright Kirsten Greenidge throwing everything but the kitchen sink into this charming one-act, the humor and strong characters managed to predominate. Ms. Greenidge’s quirky comedy is a polemic about families, communication, the internet and cell phones, the environment and a whole lot more. Much of the time, the play feels overstuffed and overwhelmed with far too many themes and ideas for a one-act. But simply sit back, relish the ride and indulge in all the laughs that come your way. Then pick and choose, taking whatever themes you like from this post-pandemic fantasy, and then find your own Miss Candice to help declutter your own life.    

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented February 13-March 28 by Shattered Globe Theatre at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available by calling the box office at 773-975-8150 or by going to www.theaterwit.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.