Review: Sarasota's Urbanite Theatre offers an inventive, entertaining 'Lungs'
The ads and promotional material for the current production of "Lungs" at Sarasota's Urbanite Theatre make it sound like some kind of stark apocalyptic drama, about a couple contemplating having a child in a desolate world on the brink of self-annihilation.
It's nothing like that.
"Lungs" is a fresh, funny and fast-paced look at a relationship. Its only two characters, who are never named -- in the script the man is called "M" and the woman "W" -- have apparently been happy until the man suggests that maybe they should think about having a baby together.
That suggestion, which happens just before the actions of the play begins, seems to have been made offhand, in a public place. But it sets in motion discussions and events that affect both characters for the rest of their lives. The two characters analyze and overanalyze the decision, each other and their relationship, and insecurities and shortcomings come to the foreground.
Playwright Duncan Macmillan's writing is a marvel. Although his characters and his situations are recognizable, his observations and his dialogue are fresh and witty, full of great lines that you tell yourself you want to remember and quote at an opportune moment. Although there's a romcom element to the play in the early going, Macmillan's structure is almost radical. Scene changes come in the middle of dialogue, made apparent with only a couple of words. Late in the play, years pass in seconds, and Macmillan's economical writing tells us everything we need to know about what has happened to the couple in the meanwhile.
It's 90-minute play (no intermission) with no wasted moments. It explores decades in a relationship between two full-realized characters and leaves us needing to know nothing further, and it makes us laugh and stirs sadness while it's doing that.
The Urbanite production has the two actors, Katie Cunningham and Brendan Ragan, directed by Daniel Kelly and performing on a stark but graceful set by Seth Graham that consists of nothing but leafless tree branches hanging from above. (There's an environmental subtext to the conversation, but the set obviously denotes something beyond that, and does so effectively.) The audience seating is configured in a horseshoe around the stage area.
Ragan and Cunningham are two of the finest actors in this area, and their individual performances here are both on target. But at least on opening night, there was little connection between the two of them. Despite the intimacy and richness of the language, the two characters seemed distant, like acquaintances rather than partners.
That's disappointing, but it's far from a fatal problem. "Lungs" is brisk, insightful and full of warmth and laughs. The lack of chemistry between the two actors doesn't change that.
Details: Through Jan. 5, Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St., Sarasota. Show times: 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Additional performances 2 p.m. Dec. 5 and 12 and 8 p.m. Dec. 28-29. No performances Dec. 24-25.Tickets: $20; students with ID $5. Information: 941-321-1397, urbanitetheatre.com.
Marty Clear, features writer/columnist, can be reached at 941-708-7919. Follow twitter.com/martinclear.
This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 3:37 PM with the headline "Review: Sarasota's Urbanite Theatre offers an inventive, entertaining 'Lungs' ."