BWW Reviews: Black Lab Theatre's TIGERS BE STILL is Refreshingly Funny

Black Lab Theatre's Houston premiere of Kim Rosenstock's TIGERS BE STILL is incredibly funny as it deals with the not so funny theme of depression. We've all had those days. You know which days. The dark days. The days where it seems impossible to get anything done much less get out of bed. Sometimes those days can last for weeks. Even if you do manage to overcome getting out of bed, dysfunction can still follow you around.

Sherry has finally left her bedroom. She dealt with months of depression due to having a master's degree in art therapy but no luck with a job. Her sister Grace is now wallowing deeply in depression, due to the discovery of a cheating fiancé, and has moved from wallowing in bed to wallowing on the couch. Their mother hasn't left her upstairs bedroom in months and only communicates with them by phone. Things start to look up for Sherry when she secures an art teaching job at a junior high school. Her principal, Joseph, even wants her to provide art therapy to his rage-filled teenage son Zack. Soon she is juggling a new job, a rage filled teenager, her depressed mom and sister and keeping herself together. Not to mention there is an escaped tiger on the loose. Staying in bed might have been easier.

Playing Sherry, the story's guide, Samantha Slater is relatable. She makes Sherry perky and optimistic while shining light on her underlying frazzledness. Compared to everyone else Slater is the energizer bunny, but it works given Sherry's eagerness to succeed and be a cheerleader for the other characters. An "I'm trying even though I'm barely just figuring out my life" quote could easily go on a meme of some of her hilarious facial expressions.

Lindsay Ehrhardt, in opposition of the perkiness and optimism, is older sister Grace. Ehrhardt is morose, gloomy and the poster child for a heartbroken and angry woman. Despite all of this she is absolutely hilarious with her drunken and destructive antics. When she sings "The Rose", it is one of the shows funniest moments. Whether she's spooning her bottle of Jack or plodding around the house, she provides pure comedic gold.

Ty Doran plays an impressive rage-filled Zack. With the recent death of Zack's Mom, coupled with the general highs and lows of adolescence, his future seems to be dismal if he does not get ahold on his anger. Delivering the perfect combination of angst and sarcasm, Doran excels with his character's profound unhappiness. Between his moments of silence and comical deadpan deliveries he still manages to balance Zack's vulnerability with ease.

Zack's father Joseph, played by the actor's real-life dad, is Justin Doran. Recently a widower, Joseph suppresses the emotion for his wife and focuses entirely on the well-being of his son. Doran imbues Joseph with a quirky charm. His interactions with Sherry and Zack are both bumbling and earnest making him quite comical.

TIGERS BE STILL delves into the theme of depression with a light and relatable touch. Rosenstock's characters celebrate the milestones that many face: leaving the bedroom, getting off of the couch, going outside, listening, having a conversation and letting go. Under the direction of Jordan Jaffe, the four actors thrive in their vulnerabilities and shine in their comedic moments.

Witty dialogue, committed performances, and great pacing make TIGERS BE STILL highly enjoyable. Though the characters are completely clueless about the metaphorical snarling emotional tigers they have lurking inside, the audience can't help but cheer as they try to tame them. TIGERS BE STILL might be about depression, but depressing it is not. It is energetic and refreshing as it tackles the steps that people take to recover in their own time and way. Black Lab Theatre makes the experience of finding humor in the darkness thoroughly satisfying and completely honest.

Black Lab Theatre's production of TIGERS BE STILL runs January 15-31, Thursday- Saturday at 8pm. For tickets and more information please visit http://www.blacklabtheater.com

Photo credit: Jordan Jaffe

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