By LeAnna Hamblin
Playwright Rachel Bublitz takes on issues that are often overlooked or misconstrued today in her play Ripped. Good Company Theatre in Ogden, Utah incredibly takes on those issues presented this piece. Bublitz said she is very pleased with how the actors and creative team have created a space to tell the story of Lucy (Sydnie Schwarzwalder). An incident with Lucy’s high school boyfriend, Bradley (Tristan B. Johnson), affects her experience in college. She has an apprehensive attitude toward men that she’s not aware of until a similar incident occurs with her new friend, Jared (Callahan Crnich). Bublitz gives the viewers a unique perspective on how accusatory people can be and how minds process trauma.
This is a narrative that many people can relate to. After a tumultuous experience with her high school boyfriend, Lucy goes off to college. While there, she meets her one friend, Jared. They grow close to one another and start having feelings stronger than friendship. As trauma from the past begin to surface, Lucy is forced to face the truth of what has happened to her. In a drunken state, she ends up at Jared’s apartment.
Schwarzwalder internalizes the role of the confused and introspective Lucy through her performance. She is focused on telling the story that Lucy has experienced. The authenticity of Schwarzwalder incites feelings of angst among the audience. This piece is not always comfortable. Schwarzwalder doesn’t hold anything back as she presents emotions through her precise movements, uninhibited facial expressions, and well-rehearsed dialogue. Her chemistry with Johnson and Crnich, although very different, is effective in differentiating between the two relationships. From the first scene, Schwarzwalder is invested and true to the character of Lucy.
Johnson plays the somewhat co-dependent boyfriend, Bradley, who doesn’t want Lucy to move on with her life without him. Trying to hang on to every last bit of connection they have, Bradley forces himself on Lucy during one of her visits home. His claim is that they have been together before, so, in his mind, he is justified to be with her again. Johnson’s intense performance is very convincing. The emotion he shows makes the audience believe that he will not be able to live without Lucy in his life. In the end, he is still convinced that he has done nothing wrong and is able to move on with his life. Johnson has a wide range of acting ability and is perfect for this role.
Crnich’s role as Jared has an immense range of emotion and Crnich pulls it off. There is no reservation during his performance of the friend wrongly accused. Jared gets put into a less than ideal situation with Lucy through the the things she accuses him of and the torment that he must live through because of it. Crnich makes the audience question his motives and fall for his charm at the same time. His acting skill is wonderfully showcased in this role.
Producers, company founders, and sisters Alicia Washington and Camille Washington, along with director Nicore Finney, have gathered an impressive team to give life to this show. Finney expertly directs Ripped to tell this important story without making a spectacle of such a serious topic. Stage manager James Schaffer runs a seamless show, allowing the audience to easily follow the storyline. Technical director Austin Hull, sound designer Kyle Lawrence, and lighting designer Gary Gabriel White have created a space that easily reflects the movement in the story. As the time flashes back and fast forwards throughout the performance, not once does the audience feel lost as to the timeline of the story. Costume and properties designer, A. Washington, clearly shows passage of time and transformation of character with costuming. The subtle changes are very effective. Intimacy coach, Andrew Barratt Lewis, had the difficult—and possibly the most important—task of making the intimate scenes look authentic and believable without making the audience and actors feel awkward. Wilson triumphed along with the actors, Schwarzwalder, Johnson, and Crnich.
Ripped tells an important story that is often overlooked, especially from the perspective that is explored in this production. Good Company Theatre in Ogden, Utah boldly brings it to life. This is a topic that should be and needs to be addressed by everyday people. We can only become better by doing that which makes us uncomfortable. Ripped is suitable for mature audiences; young children should not attend. The play runs 80 minutes and has no intermission.
Good Company Theatre Presents Ripped, written by Rachel Bublitz.
Good Company Theatre, 2404 Wall Avenue, Ogden, Utah 84401
September 20-October 6, 2019, 8:00 PM, Friday, Saturday, 4:00 PM, Sunday
Tickets: $20
Contact: 801-917-4969
Good Company Theater Website
Good Company Theater Facebook Page
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