George Street Playhouse (GSP) continues its 2021 virtual season with Nia Vardalos’ adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s advice column and book “Tiny Beautiful Things.” This multi-faceted gem has a dream-team of a cast, all favorites of GSP patrons–John Bolger (Alfredo), Kally Duling (Natalie), Ryan George (Philip), and GSP’s new Artistic Associate Laiona Michelle (Sugar). The play is the brainchild of Marshall Heyman, Thomas Kail and Nia Vardalos. Vardalos ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding") has crafted a detailed, emotionally rich experience that stretches each of the performers in a masterful and intelligent, arresting way, which is exactly what our souls need to hear. The world struggles to put itself back together, Kintsugi style, outlining the broken places in gold to show that what was broken comes back stronger. Under the expert direction of Artistic Director David Saint, Michelle, a writer, becomes “Sugar” when the mantle of advice columnist is passed from a colleague she met at a conference. She takes it on as a lark, after initially considering demurring. The longest journey begins with a single, tiny beautiful step.
Producer Sharon Karmazin donated use of her lake house to host this production, which includes Michael Boylan’s Cinematography and Editing, Helen Tewksbury’s Art Direction, Lisa Zinni’s Costumes, Scott Killian’s Original Music and Sound Design, and Ryan Rumery’s Sound Editing, all in the tender care of Nicole Kuker, the Production Stage Manager. The setting is like visiting a dear friend, surrounded by the great outdoors. And as Alfredo, Natalie, and Philip move fluidly among gender, age, and background, as they become the people who write the letters that Sugar answers, Michelle’ Sugar becomes tough, tender, forceful, emotional, and magical in this role. This all-star cast, who become about a hundred or more characters through the course of the play, each shows the 360+ degree range of genius that they possess.
Rather than a play, this is like grand opera–sometimes grand guignol. There are salty language and deep pain, which is shared. There are moments of great beauty and love and life. The choices Vardalos has made have the rhythm of music. This music is too big to be a set in a jazz club, despite the intimacy. It’s too big for an opera house–it is the music of life. Bolger, George, and Duling are the featured soloists, or singers whose arias augment Michelle’s Orpheus, leading us through the underworld to share the journey that makes both a life and a community. Just in case you are occasionally leaky, no one will see you dab your eyes in the comfort of your own home, where you can stream this show as you like.
Tickets are available and this show streams through May 23! Get more details and information at www.GeorgeStreetPlayhouse.org to open your heart and mind to a brilliant adaptation of a very timely work of living art!