Julie (Livi Woods) shows signs of rebellion which her parents (Jessie Gilbert and Steve Yudelson) can’t comprehend, in Oblivion, playing through April 11 at the Ridgefield Theater Barn. —Carol Mark
A personal desire for meaning is common in every facet of human life. Whether it’s the value of human relationships, the need for artistic expression, or the search for genuine feeling, few are not familiar with the primary questions of purpose. Through a dual lense of secularism and religion, Oblivion seeks to explore those questions at the Ridgefield Theater Barn.
Directed by Sherry Asch, Oblivion makes use of a confined space, in the guise of a Brooklyn apartment, to tell its story. Though limited, the set is nonetheless used by Asch in a variety of refreshing ways. Domestic conflicts, rooftop talks, and personal monologues are all made to work within the confines of the setting portrayed. While Livi Woods, as Julie, conspires to adopt her own religion in a secularist household, the boundaries of the play are imaginatively extended, and pushed to their limits.
Hieu Nguyen, Julie’s friend, performs admirably in his role of prospective film student, showing a clear emotional range through empathetic monologues. In turn, Jessie Gilbert and Steve Yudelson exhibit a naturalistic familiarity with their roles as troubled father and mother. Livi Woods also portrays her character, Julie, with a believable degree of spirited vulnerability.
However, it is quite clear that this particular production lacks a certain depth of character, drive, and connection between characters. Curbed as they are by a play which fixates on the calm and collected, moments of extreme emotion are nonetheless restrained, causing major conflicts to appear almost trivial. In turn, actors are more prone to consider themselves than the characters around them, thereby turning a play of human struggle into a play of stated opinion and argument. Still, Oblivion is able to present its content fairly, and the production holds a strong commitment to the intended views of the play itself.
Oblivion continues through April 11 with performances Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. (No performances April 3rd & 4th in observance of Passover & Easter weekend) and Sunday matinees on March 22 & 29 at 2 p.m.; ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org