Raw, Real, and Relatable
As one gets older, life takes over uncontrollably. Time goes by faster, and “trains get missed”. In Loud Fridge’s season opener, Gruesome Playground Injuries, these feelings, amongst other complications, are wrapped up in a 90-minute, one-act piece.
Kayleen (Lark Ashley Laudenslager) and Doug (Nicolas A. Castillo) are 8 years old and classmates. They meet at the nurse’s office due to a tummyache and an injury from biking off the roof. Doug is invested and encouraging, while Kayleen is quiet and reserved. A friendship is born, and the two will navigate the years along their respective paths, good and bad.
The events unfold nonlinearly to provide a better grasp of the context, and the ages are projected onto Michael Wogulis’ set design, which shifts between scenes separated by a long curtain. I appreciated how Wogulis used the space vertically, as it gives a lengthy feel. The actors enter and exit the stage, moving from one corner to the next and the center, making the scene dynamic. Theatre artist Kaylin Saur directs the piece, showcasing her performative and circus skills as the actors’ transitions through the years are marked by their on-stage makeup and wardrobe changes. Each of them has a station with wheels, and they rotate, creating different frames that are creative. These frames feature see-through mirrors that let you in on the action, from bloody injuries to ponytails, buns, and loose hair. Karelle Arcedera’s lighting highlighted each of these transitions, adding a sense of anticipation to the moment as the audience waits for the next encounter.
Kaylin’s vision is clear, but the play’s flow could benefit from fewer transitions, as the novelty wears off instead of gaining momentum. The variety in Heather K Nunn’s costume design is rich and detailed, complementing each moment in these friends’ lives. Tenth Avenue Arts Center has this hollow echo effect, and Eliza Vedar’s sound integrates it with all the moving pieces.
Lark Ashley and Nicolas made the feelings in Rajiv Joseph’s lines come through raw and deep. The actors displayed camaraderie, good rhythm, and heart. I believe that practically everyone has had that friend who prompts “what-ifs,” creating alternate imaginary scenarios.
Aiming to avoid spoilers, Gruesome Playground Injuries explores a part of life: the intricacies of growing up and sharing that experience with someone who is also going through it. Bring tissues and get a drink.
Aaronne Louis-Charles is the stage manager for this play, which is currently playing until April 26. For more information, please click here. Also note this fantastic initiative, where tickets to this production are offered free of charge as part of the company’s “Open Fridge” policy;
Pay-what-you-wish donations are encouraged and appreciated.
