THE LUCKIEST at La Jolla Playhouse
THE LUCKIEST is a kind of love story, though not in the traditionalform. This is a show about the power and strength that come from lovingfriends, family, and loving yourself enough to know what to do in the face of alife changing event. This world premier playby Melissa Ross, playing at the La Jolla Playhouse through July 28th,is a moving look at the power of living and loving in the present since younever know what tomorrow may bring.
Lissette (Aleque Reid) is a sassy, take no prisoners kind of girl,who speaks her mind and can also mix you one of the best cocktails you’ve evertasted. Her best friend Peter (Reggie D.White) is a supportive, and equally spirited person who supports and challengesLissette as much as she does him.
When Lissette gets a diagnosis that has a grave impact on how shewill continue to live her life, it is Reggie to whom she turns for support. Lissette’smother Cheryl (Deirdre Lovejoy) is no delicate flower either and makes herthoughts known to both of them about how events are moving forward.
Starting near the end of the timeline, the play is told in anonlinear timeline the play jumps around from scene to scene incrementally showinghow everyone got to the present moment. Directed by Jaime Castañeda, the play is a lot like its characters;compelling, energetic, and filled with drive. Castañedakeep the energy and the story from ever turning overly maudlin or sad andfocuses on these three characters and their journeys.
Reid is powerful as the vulnerable, lively, and determined Lissette. It is not until an emotionally impactfulmonologue on her diagnosis that everything is revealed. Her physicality changesare excellent as scenes require her to adapt quickly and convincingly dependingon where in the timeline it falls. (This is also why I’m not divulging it inthis review.)
White is equally touching as Reggie, a friend and confidant thatis just as thrown by the changes this diagnosis brings to their friendship andhis life. He opens the show with afunny, and slightly manic monologue about the party he is throwing Lisette, completewith his knowledge of how Lissette prefers the ganache on her cake (no jamplease), and his helplessness in the face of the Trade Joe snack aisle (same).
Lovejoy as Cheryl, Lissette’s mother is both fragile and ferociousas she fights for (and sometimes with) her daughter about her futuredecisions. Her Woburn accent is spot onas anyone who has meet someone from that part of the country can attest.
Life, death, love, friendship- it’s all explored in this show withthe compelling trio as its cast. Audienceswill leave with plenty of emotions and thoughts on their own life andrelationships.
It does answer the query of what you call the people who live,love, and support each other through the good times and the bad. As the play demonstrates, they’re THELUCKIEST.
THE LUCKIEST is playing at the La Jolla Playhouse though July 28th. For ticket and show time information go to www.lajollaplayhouse.org
Photo Credit: Reggie D. White and Aleque Reid in THE LUCKIEST; photo by Jim Carmody