EMA Review: The State of Virginia : * Not Hungry

New Works doesn’t work

By Paul Atreides

Author, Playwright, and Theatre Critic at EatMoreArtVegas.compaul-atreides.com  

The Las Vegas Little Theatre (LVLT) is presenting The State of Virginia, by Robb Willoughby, the winner of its 18th New Works Competition in the Fischer Black Box. Willoughby also won the LVLT tenth New Works Competition in 2018 with his play /’se Krits/, a delightful comedy.

LVLT is to be commended for continuing this project. This is an important program for new plays. It provides an opportunity for a new script to be workshopped over the course of rehearsals, a time for actors, directors, and playwrights to come together and find what works and fix what doesn’t.

Sadly, it didn’t happen here, and director David Ament didn’t do Willoughby any favors. The script doesn’t follow a clear timeline and is filled with holes and inconsistencies. At one point the action is taking place at dinnertime (Taco Tuesday) during a weekly Scrabble game, the next instant the dialogue indicates it happened that same morning.'

The story centers around Virginia, played by Sherri Willingham, dealing with a neuromuscular disease and who is constantly calling the police (played by Kevin Pettei and Don Roberts) on the world’s most annoying upstairs neighbor. She is assisted by Brenda, a neighbor woman played by Kristi McKay. Enter Molly (Anika Moore) with a completely superfluous subplot. While Virginia and Brenda are getting to know her, Molly says she just broke away from a religious cult, and the discussion immediately turns to what hobbies she has. It doesn’t comport with the Virginia and Brenda character development to that point in the script.

According to the dialogue, three months later, a transformed Molly pukes on Officer Reasons (Kevin Pettei) and everyone runs out. But Officer Silvers (Don Roberts) offers to clean it up – remember, Virginia is disabled – goes to the kitchen, returns, and then stands and talks without so much as a swipe to the floor. In a following scene, Molly is arrested for robbing a series of stores after escaping a mental hospital. The dialogue says it’s been two months since she lived in the apartment complex.

Virginia believes she’s murdered the neighbor by poisoning a cup of coffee. When Reasons and Silvers show up, attempting to explain that there was nothing suspicious, Virginia interrupts to insist that she be arrested for the killing. Finally, she allows the police to inform her that the toxicology report came back clean. Though we never do find out what happened other than “it was an accident.” Mostly glossed over, it’s revealed much later that Virginia has a son and grandson.

Then, Silvers asks Virginia on a date. When the big night arrives, he wheels her out the door, and the lights go down. One thinks, “All’s well that ends well.” But then there are two more unnecessary scenes, for a total running time of two hours and 45 minutes.

The script needs to be dramatically tightened up. The entire Molly subplot could be cut without harming the play. It could be turned into another comedy entirely. When Silvers' wheels Virginia out the door for their date, it wraps the Virginia storyline well; she’s learned from Silvers that she’s still a desirable woman and doesn’t need to be mad at herself or the world for her predicament.

Production details have been overlooked; tacos appeared to be burritos, a “mostly vodka with a splash of coke” was way too dark, Virginia gets dowsed with water yet returns onstage completely dry, and a walker and wheelchair sit on the stage, mainly unused. Though Chris Davies has turned the small space into a beautiful apartment, Julie Horton’s costumes are well-thought-out.

Playwrights need these competitions, and LVLT should continue the program. But it should serve the purpose it is intended to provide.

What: The State of Virginia

When: 7 p.m. Friday - Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday through May 25

            2 p.m. Saturday, May 17 & 24

Where: Las Vegas Little Theatre – Fischer Black Box, 3920 Schiff Drive

Tickets: $20 (702-362-7996; www.lvlt.org)

Grade:  * Not Hungry

Producer: Las Vegas Little Theatre; Director: David Ament; Set Design: Chris Davies; Lighting Design: Ginny Adams; Sound Design: Lisa Tollefson; Costumes: Julie Horton; Stage Manager: Lauren Tannehill