WITH Tackles A Serious Subject With Grace, Humor, And Compassion
Aging is not for the faint of heart. This sentiment comes to life with pathos, sadness, and humor in the St. Louis Actors’ Studio production of With, by Carter W. Lewis. Exceptional performances, well-focused direction, and design work that brings the story together in visceral ways result in a thoroughly engrossing and enjoyable, if ultimately tragic, play.
On a blustery winter morning, somewhere in the Midwest where they get plenty of snow, an older couple is trying to go about their day. At first glance, they look like a typical senior couple – she’s changing the sheets and doing the laundry, he’s immersed in a screw sorting project – but not everything is as normal as it seems. Minnie is suffering from cancer, and the symptoms are getting worse, but the treatment is too expensive. Her husband Clifford’s memory is losing to dementia, his fine motor skills and muscle control are failing, and he’s got an upset stomach from drinking spoiled milk, repeatedly. With their recently deceased son’s help, they’ve planned to end their lives together, on their terms. Now if they could only find the instructions he left them.
Although filled with genuine warmth and humor, there’s a deep sense of sadness that permeates the air. The failings of their aging bodies and the consequences of previous decisions aren’t helping them complete their task, but their unconditional love and resilient humor help to ease their pain and discomfort. Donna Weinsting and Whit Reichert captivate audiences with finely tuned performances, delving into the nuances of age and their ailments while revealing the depth and commitment of their characters’ love. Their timing is perfect, and their back-and-forth conversation, sometimes bickering but more often than not laughing together and helping each other, is natural and unaffected.
Director Annamarie Pileggi provides a solid framework that allows the two veteran performers room to shine and really immerse themselves in their characters. Set and lighting design Patrick Huber and props and sound design Emma Glose create a homey, believable environment with a few surprises. And Lewis, a St. Louis-raised playwright who is beginning to gain attention and momentum, gives them a fabulous script filled with detail and complexity that represents a lifetime together without ignoring the very real fact that it is near its conclusion. Lewis infuses the dialogue with relatable humor and genuine affection that feels organic, as if drawn from the writer’s perspective and observed experience. Minnie and Clifford are believable and authentic. You feel like you might have seen them at the grocery store just the other week, and you may feel a tear or two welling up as you empathize with their predicament.
With is a serious show that brings real questions about facing death, aging, and dying with dignity to the forefront. I wholeheartedly recommend the play for mature audiences that can handle the serious topic. The well-written script is purposeful and direct, presenting fully developed characters, complete with flaws and inconsistencies, and very human frailty. Not everyone is going to warm up to this intimate, sweetly sad two-performer show. Those who give it a chance are likely to find themselves genuinely invested in Minnie and Clifford’s situation and moved by the simple grace, occasional discomfort, and thoughtful eloquence shown to the subject of death. The St. Louis Actors’ Studio production is small but spectacular storytelling that deserves a big audience.
