BWW Reviews: New Plays and Lovely Ladies in Boston Public Works Theater Company's THREE

I am always very excited when I hear about new plays written by Boston-based playwrights. I think there are so many more stories to be told and am pleased to see work being generated right here in our vibrant city. I am also a strong supporter of gender parity and love to see opportunities by women that support women, so overall, I was very excited to see Boston Public Works Theater Company's production of THREE, a new play by Emily Kaye Lazzaro.

The piece centers around three college friends at three key moments throughout their twenties: at their college graduation, at the bachelorette party of one of trio, and at a funeral. It focuses not only on the intricacies and complications of their friendship, but also on the challenges that come with figuring out how to be an adult and start a life of your own. I have heard some older folks gripe about it being a play about millennials with first world problems, but as a twenty-something trying to develop my career, prioritize my friendships, and figure out who I'm going to be, I found this real and honest play to be refreshing. This play was for audiences like me.

For the most part, I really enjoyed the narrative and structure of the play. Lazzaro is a smart writer, accurately representing how young women think and feel, but also crafting dialogue that is sharp and funny. The vehicle of time passing was effective for me as well, as it was subtle enough to be believable (about 3 years pass between each scene), and an interesting challenge for the actors to age and let their relationships develop as they would over time. My only real critique of the writing is actually in the dynamic of the friendship presented. I understand that the piece is meant to showcase the conflicts between the women and that we are to believe that the time in between the scenes is filled with more positive interactions, but I had trouble envisioning it. I often felt they got a bit too mean with one another and don't know that I was ever given the groundwork to understand the love that lived beneath the surface. I wanted to root for their friendship more than I ultimately did. But honestly, the fact that this is a new work about young women makes me want to look past that. I may not have gotten completely behind their friendships, but I got behind the play.

The piece was produced by a whole crew of talented ladies. Director A. Nora Long, who made a talking play visually dynamic, led a cast of three young actresses: a stoic Tasia Jones, a vulnerable and well-developed Kelly Chick, and a show-stopping Sarah Elizabeth Bedard. All three had great chemistry, after obviously having worked very intimately, and aged their characters with purpose and subtlety. I was most excited by Bedard, who really grasped the humor of the piece. As the sloppy and attention-seeking Jenny, Bedard was outrageous, while still managing to remain honest and present. It was a lovely group of young women.

Aesthetically, I was a bit split on the piece. The scenic design by Shelley Barish, which utilized chalkboard walls (always love chalkboard walls) and deflated party decorations, looked like the morning after a raging gathering. It had a feel of harsh reality to it, with a faint memory of celebration past. I came around on it, after initially wishing for a more realism-based set, and ultimately appreciated that it was so versatile. I did not love the multi-purpose trash piles, but did enjoy how Director Long used the surroundings to make seamless and entertaining transitions. Costumes, by Amanda Ostrow, were both age and function appropriate, and the characters aged believably (with the exception of Sam, who I think aged a bit too quickly). And the sound design, by Andrew Duncan Will, was really exciting, edgy, and cohesive.

I do think this play could benefit from a little more development, but I am excited that it exists. I think slice of life plays are difficult to accomplish, but this one did so effortlessly. These were real characters having real problems and were presented in a clever, heartfelt, and sharp way. I love new plays and I love roles for young actresses. Keep doing that, BPT, and you've got yourself a loyal fan.

Written by Emily Kaye Lazzaro; Directed by A. Nora Long; Stage Managed by Lauren Annes; Scenic and Props by Shelley Barish; Lighting by Ian W King; Costumes by Amanda Ostrow; Sound by Andrew Duncan Will; Produced by Amy Spalletta

Featuring Sarah Elizabeth Bedard, Kelly Chick, and Tasia Jones.

Boston Public Works Theater Company's production of THREE runs in the Plaza Black Box at the Boston Center for the Arts through June 20. For more information and tickets, visit http://www.bostonpublicworks.org/.

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