My journey to Enfield, NH led me to the Shaker Bridge Theatre where they produced Deborah Salem-Smith’s Love Alone. Nestled in this quiet and sweet town, a story of death and grief and how the parties involved navigate their lives unfolds.
The play opens with Dr. Becca Neal, an anesthesiologist, breaking the news of the death of Helen’s partner of twenty years during a routine operation. The play delves into the lives of these two women and how they try to manage through the malpractice suit, their families, and moving forward. These two strong leads, Qurrat Kadwani, and Suzanne Dudley-Schon, open the play with high stakes but sadly never interact again. Regardless, they lead their story lines with command and emotional gravitas. Kadwani dances the fine line of balancing the loss of her first patient and the ramifications of that onto her personal interactions. Dudley-Schon’s performance is a truthful portrayal of the stages of grief allowing us to feel it with her. Supported by a strong ensemble, Jaime Schwarz’s Clementine (Helen’s daughter) brings light to a dark situation. Ben Roberts plays the distraught husband of Becca whose own needs aren’t being met. Leah Romano covers three roles – each with their own distinct character. Mike Blackman’s plays the attorney who rigorously fights for the deceased and her family.
Set in the thrust playing space, the action takes place in various locations (two living rooms, a waiting room, parking lot, etc.) which all encompass the space at the same time. A complicated play that was brilliantly staged by director, Richard Waterhouse, the scenes weave in out of each other and at times simultaneously occur. The transitions therefore were seamless allowing the story to move quickly and keep the audience’s focus.
The show has two more performances. If you’re in Enfield or in a neighboring town, be sure to see it before it closes.
Saturday, February 4th at 7:30pm; Sunday, February 5th at 2:30pm
23 Main Street, Enfield, NH
http://www.shakerbridgetheatre.org
Malini Singh mcdonald 