BWW Reviews: DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE a Humorous Exploration of Technology and Human Contact

It's amazing how dependent we are to our phones. Many of us manage our calendars, or e-mails, our social media, and even our grocery lists through our phones. That small piece of plastic and mini circuit boards may be the first thing we come in contact with in the morning, and might be the last thing we are in contact with at night. We may use our phones to connect us to other people, but it's almost as if our phone is its own person.

But real people die. Phones do not. So what happens to the piece of equipment we use to connect with the world when we are dead? Can the phone keep us connected to others after we die? That's one of many bizarre and oddly poignant questions asked by Sarah Ruhl's quirky comedy, Dead Man's Cell Phone, now playing at The Playhouse in a well-crafted and well-acted production.

The play begins with the frumpy, easy to dismiss Jean (Sarah Fisch) sitting in a café quietly enjoying her lunch when a cell phone rings at the next table. The man at the table (Matthew Byron Cassi) ignores the incessant ringing as well as Jean's several requests that he pick up his phone or turn it off. If you haven't guessed yet based on the title, the man is dead, so naturally Jean calls the police. But then, she starts fielding the dead man's calls, rationalizing her actions with the assumption that if people call him, they must care about him and perhaps she can keep him somehow alive or connected by taking his calls.

While the catalyst for the action may be entirely improbable, director Andrew Thornton and actress Sarah Fisch make it easy to suspend any disbelief. Fisch plays Jean as a lonely woman who is desperate for human contact. There's something immensely relatable in that, and it makes it far easier to buy the idea that she would keep a dead man's phone, answer his calls, and even meet his family. What could be a rambling, bumbling mess (Ruhl's text isn't linear, realistic, or character driven by design) is decidedly focused on the character of Jean in this production. Overall, the show plays as a clever character study and a rumination on our dependency on technology.

The rest of Thornton's cast is just as wonderful as Fisch. As Gordon (the dead guy) Cassi is perfectly cast. His large physique and deep voice are a great fit for any bad guy role (we quickly find out that Gordon isn't as great a guy as Jean first assumes). EJ Roberts is adorably goofy as Gordon's brother and Jean's eventual love interest. As Gordon's mother, Kathleen Couser gives a hilarious performance, particularly when delivering Gordon's eulogy. Meredith Bell Alvarez is quite effective as Gordon's frosty wife, but as hostile as she is, you still feel sympathetic towards her, especially in a moment of oversharing that occurs in the second act. And as Gordon's mistress, Marisa Varela is a hysterical scene-stealing bombshell.

Running time: 1 hour and 50 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission.

DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE plays The Playhouse Cellar Theater (800 W. Ashby Pl, San Antonio 78212) now thru June 1st. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 3pm and 8pm. Tickets are $15-$25. For tickets and information, please visit www.theplayhousesa.org

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