The DC premiere of Greg Kalleres’ “Apropos of Nothing” at The Keegan Theatre may be just what this summer ordered in the nation’s capital. Forget the politics, forget the chaos, forget everything for 90 minutes and laugh along with Owen, Martin, Lily, Rebecca, Jacob, and Dave as they try and navigate their way through breakups, near breakups, and complete relationship breakdowns.
This is a delightful comedy that knows its lane and stays safely within it. The predictability is there, but this only adds to the fun. You can relax and enjoy watching someone else’s disaster of a life while laughing because, hey, in some ways, we’ve all been there.
The set design on this one is quite extravagant. Designer Josh Sticklin creates multi-leveled, controlled chaos which only enhances the action on stage. There is always another place to look, another detail to pick out, and another level to appreciate. Brandon Cook’s sound design, while a bit perplexing, also adds an intriguing element to the tale of love gone wrong, then right, then…who knows. The lighting by Hailey LaRoe sets the perfect mood for this show that seems to borrow thematically from some of the best Shakespearean comedies, featuring love stories that can often require a compass and map to wind their way to happily ever after.
The acting is the cherry on top of a laugh-out-loud story and its couple-swapping hijinks. As Owen, Ryan Sellers shines and carries the comedy through its many levels of miscommunication and the resulting misunderstandings. Irene Hamilton as Lily offers an outstanding performance that makes neurotic look easy. While Justin Von Stein, Emily Erickson, Drew Sharpe and Dominique Gray round out an ensemble that seems perfectly in sync and has a firm handle on Kalleres’ feisty and fun script.
