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Distracted, a play by Lisa Loomer, was produced as the third collaboration between the Unicorn Theatre and UMKC Theatre. Directed by Cynthia Levin, Producing Artistic Director for the Unicorn Theatre, the story humorously reflected some of the anxieties in parenting in the modern world.

The plot follows a well-intentioned mother as she tries to find a solution for her problematic child. Is he suffering from anxiety? Hyperactivity? Attention Deficit Disorder? This concept for the play is intriguing for parents, educators, and those interested in psychological issues. The design reflects the overstimulation from modern-day media ubiquity. But the script is the most distracting element of the production, torn between being a docu-drama and a sitcom centered on a child’s diagnosis.

The cast was led by Katie Gilchrist as Mama, a stay-at-home mother looking for every possible solution to her child’s behavioral issues. She’s equally concerned about how her child’s behavior reflects her work as the mother and wants to “fix” the child. Gilchrist was sweet and wryly funny, playing the obsessed, confused, and at times overwrought character plagued with anxieties. Even though I wanted to scream “Look at how you live” in response to her bewilderment at her child’s issues, Gilchrist managed to make Mama a sympathetic character.

The most focused character, who ironically exhibits multiple signs of having adult ADD, was the father played by Rusty Sneary. Sneary’s performance was constant throughout as the working father and supportive husband, who wants what’s best for his son, but sees a normal childhood – without ubiquitous testing, doctors, and therapy – as the solution. Sneary created a complete entity, not over-doing or caricaturing the character. He was funny, honest, concerned, and showed a deep love for his family.

All the characters displayed some psychological baggage. The son Jesse, played by Zachary Hoar, was the driving force for the plot. He’s heard, not seen, until the final scene – an interesting twist on the traditional childhood axiom. Hoar came across as a rambunctious kid, prone to tantrums like anyone, but effective in his role. The two neighbors, Sherry (Rachel Hirshorn) and Vera (Amy Urbina) worked primarily as caricatures, but each had an emotional moment when she was allowed to put aside the quirky tics of the character and those moments were searing. Sherry’s daughter Natalie (Molliann McCulley) seemed like the typical teenager, acting out for att ention. McCulley played the teen with a heartbreaking innocence.

Some of the actors were asked to play multiple roles. This device, sometimes switching characters mid-scene, kept with the ADD-aspects of the play, though sometimes it came off as two dimensional. Andi Meyer, Dina Kirschenbaum, and Mark Thomas fulfilled the roles of doctors, a waitress, school teacher, a nurse, and even an actor with ADD. Though parodies, these exaggerated portrayals were amusing and well maintained.

The design team—many of which are UMKC students—created a believably suburban and flexible environment. Jesse’s lair was above and behind the main action, aptly overshadowing the other characters’ area. The use of rolling furniture was very effective and, during this performance, unintentionally allowed for a hilarious moment that called on the improvisational skills of Gilchrist and Sneary.

I learned a lot about ADD, the diagnostic process and its treatment options, from the play. Throughout Mama consulted a cadre of specialty doctors and they proposed everything: environmental hazard, allergies, homeopathy, therapy and medication. The prevalence of television, internet, movies, and music was not discussed as a possible component of a child’s well-being or lack thereof, which I found to be a pretty obvious oversight in the writing. Also distracting were the constant asides to the audience which consistently broke the dramatic tension.

Distracted offered enjoyable performances, considering the intense material. The plot was too funny for the material at times and allowed for cheap jokes at the expense of the development of the characters. The actors made up for it however and the end result was informative, amusing, and absolutely worth seeing.

REVIEW:
Unicorn Theatre and UMKC Department of Theatre
Distracted
Runs through December 12 (Reviewed November 27, 2010)
Unicorn Theatre
3828 Main Street, Kansas City, MO
For tickets call 816-531-PLAY or visit www.UnicornTheatre.org

Cover photo by Cynthia Levin and courtesy of Unicorn Theatre

By Libby Hanssen

Traditional and New Classical, Theatre Contributor

Libby Hanssen holds degrees from University of Missouri-Kansas City (M.M.) and Ball State University (B.M.) in trombone performance and also studied music education at Indiana University. She has studied trombone with Carl Lenthe, JoDee Davis, John Seidel, John Huntoon and Denis Wick, and music education with Brent Gault, Estelle Jorgensen and Katherine Strand.

While at IU, she taught classes in general music, focusing on listening skills and music fundamentals through practical music usage and exploring new sound constructions. During the course of her studies at UMKC, she performed with many ensembles, including the Conservatory Orchestra and Musica Nova. She has also performed with the Kansas City Puccini Festival, the People's Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City, the New Jazz Order, the Indiana Wind Symphony and the Muncie Symphony Orchestra.

In 2010, she was a fellow (one of 23 journalists selected from across the US) for the seventh annual National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Arts Journalism Institute in Classical Music and Opera at Columbia University’s Journalism School in New York City.

Most of her free time is spent with her three boys (son, dog and husband) and camera, exploring the many fine aspects of Kansas City living. She enjoys listening to KKFI - Kansas City Community Radio and KCUR - Kansas City's NPR station, visiting Kansas City's fine collection of museums and galleries, and scavenging in thrift and antique stores to add to her collection of toy instruments.

She writes for the joy of words and the process of constructing a story, maintaining the blog Proust Eats a Sandwich (www.prousteatsasandwich.wordpress.com). She is working on her first book: Murray Goes to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.