Review Roundup: ROZ & RAY at San Diego Repertory Theatre

Set in San Diego, ROZ & RAY tells a time-bending story that sheds light on a little known chapter in medical history. Ray is a devoted single parent desperately trying to keep his twin sons alive. Ray is ecstatic when he meets Roz - a brilliant doctor who offers a cutting-edge miracle treatment for his boys. Immediately, the two forge a deep and intimate bond, until they both discover this miracle treatment may come at a great cost.

The show was written by San Diego native Karen Hartman and directed by Delicia Turner Sonnenberg, with scenic design by John Iacovelli, lighting and projection design by Sherrice Mojgani, costume design by Shelly Williams, and sound design by Matthew Lescault-Wood.

The cast stars Carla Harting as Roz and Steve Lone as Ray. ROZ & RAY runs at San Diego Repertory Theatre through October 1.

Let's see what the critics had to say!

James Hebert, The San Diego Union-Tribune: Harting, though, is particularly good at conveying Roz's agonized conflict between following medical protocol and what's in her gut, and Lone is persuasive (and ultimately heartbreaking) as the doting dad. Their increasingly fraught relationship is complicated, to say the least, by matters of sexual identity, through which Hartman introduces the huge issue of anti-gay bigotry that accompanied the early years of AIDS. While the bloody shards of glass that dangle from above in John Iacovelli's scenic design verge on the overly macabre, they do also touch on the idea of the glass ceiling that hindered Roz - a female doctor in an era with few of them - from voicing her worries sooner. Knowing what's to come, it's hard not to feel wistful when Roz says with a smile early on: "We're done with the dark ages."

T.R. Robertson, The Vista Press: Playing the role of Dr. Roz is veteran actress Carla Harting. She has appeared in several SD Rep plays as well as a number of other roles in San Diego County. Playing Ray is another SD Rep veteran, Steven Lone. He has also performed in numerous plays in San Diego and is a former Craig Noel Award nominee. Both of these actors bring a tremendous passion, sensitivity and emotion to their roles. This play touches on a number of issues, some political and some stereotypical, some maddening and some very hard to understand.

Bill Eadie, San Diego Story: In the end, the play does better with its depiction of the social justice involved in managing protocols for promising but unproven treatments than it does with the interactions between its two characters (we never see either of Ray's children, nor any other child Roz is treating)... Even so, the Rep's production is first class. Under Delicia Turner Sonnenberg's adept direction, Ms. Harting and Mr. Lone embody their characters and make the plot twists as believable as possible. John Iacovelli's scenic design is spare but features a whimsical overhead mobile made of blood containers. Shelly Williams' costumes, Sherrice Mojgani's lighting and projection designs, and Matt Lescault-Wood's sound design all compliment nicely.

Photo: Daren Scott

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