Fully Committed...
This play, the first to run in the Festival Theater's new temporary space (the city of St. Croix is redeveloping the building and site where their usual stage is), is a small play with a big talent. Chloe Amao is the one and only character in this comedy about a woman who is basically a one-of-a-kind, jack[ie?]-of all-trades receptionist at a big time New York City restaurant.
The author, Becky Mode, obviously drew upon her extensive experience as a waitress, coat check girl and actress for the comedic examination of the 40 or so personalities that Chloe becomes during the show. Fielding all sorts of calls to the restaurant from customers, her Father, suppliers, important restaurant critics, and assorted disgruntled patrons, the scenes must accurately represent what some poor soul must go through in this job in real life. But, if it is not bad enough Chloe has to deal with the flotsam and jetsam of the problems pouring through the phone from the outside, she also has to quell the passion of the restaurant's chef with just as much dexterity on the house line.
It's a nice play and fits the space well. It may be hard for the Festival to mount complicated shows in the coming months while the rehab at their home site is taking place, but the new space in downtown St. Croix is the essence of what intimate theater is like and well worth the effort.
RPW
The author, Becky Mode, obviously drew upon her extensive experience as a waitress, coat check girl and actress for the comedic examination of the 40 or so personalities that Chloe becomes during the show. Fielding all sorts of calls to the restaurant from customers, her Father, suppliers, important restaurant critics, and assorted disgruntled patrons, the scenes must accurately represent what some poor soul must go through in this job in real life. But, if it is not bad enough Chloe has to deal with the flotsam and jetsam of the problems pouring through the phone from the outside, she also has to quell the passion of the restaurant's chef with just as much dexterity on the house line.
It's a nice play and fits the space well. It may be hard for the Festival to mount complicated shows in the coming months while the rehab at their home site is taking place, but the new space in downtown St. Croix is the essence of what intimate theater is like and well worth the effort.
RPW