by David Wittstock
For years the Washington Ensemble Theatre has been proving that theatre in Seattle is a thriving art and not the endangered or extinct animal it is in other regions of the country. Fittingly, the theatre's newest production "Babs the Dodo" resurrects not only extinct creatures but also our expectations of theatre in the region.
The play centers around Babs whose life is convincing people that whatever product she's talking about is exactly what that person needs to find happiness. She holds the coveted 3:00 - 5:30 timeslot on the ShopMore network, in the latter stages of a successful career that has netted her millions of dollars. Her success, however came at the expense of her personal life and the more material happiness she sold to others, were drained and lost on herself as she grew older.
Now 50, Babs is alone and unhappy. She left her husband years ago, yet still invokes his name as though they're currently married, when selling products. As her unhappiness grows she loses control of her life rapidly, before a miracle involving a tomato peeler, changes everything. It's really more of a comedy than drama and marks the directorial debut for Elise Hunt, a senior member of the Ensemble since 2005.
The production as a whole is fairly simple but fitting for the script which is not reliant on spectacle. The set is a large white wall with a number of small sliding doors and drawers that open up sporadically as the play progresses to reveal any number or people or objects. The cast and performances are a step above anything I've seen at the WET before. John Abramson is a wonderfully effective salesman, Handsome Chris, who even briefly had me convinced that a wooden pencil was a cool thing.
Marty Mukhalian captures the sadness of a woman who regrets the love she gave away, and is genuinely, or desperately hopeful that she's able to find it again. All in all it's a wonderful play; very funny, sincere, and naturally holding the warmth and enthusiasm that makes WET consistently great.
Babs the Dodo is playing Thursday through Monday at 7:30, Washington Ensemble Theatre, 608 19th Avenue East.
