Tony Award-winning “The Humans” relates to Boston audience
Raider Times photo / Courtesy of Julieta Cervantes
A scene from the national tour of “The Humans” featuring performers Richard Thomas (as Erik Blake), Therese Plaehn (Aimee Blake), Pamela Reed (Deirdre Blake), Daisy Eagan (Brigid Blake), and Luis Vega (Richard Saad).
March 25, 2018
“The Humans” takes place in an apartment in lower Manhattan that belongs to Brigid (Daisy Egan) and Rich (Luis Vega), a loving couple hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the first time.
The dinner is held for Brigid’s family, which consists of her sister Aimee (Therese Plaehn), who recently divorced the love of her life and is struggling with colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in the digestive tract making her take frequent trips to the bathroom. Along with Aimee, her parents Erik (Richard Thomas) and Deirdre (Pamela Reed) attend and bring along grandma Momo (Lauren Klein) who is suffering with Alzheimer’s disease. Together the family faces trials of fear, disease, unemployment, loss, and other basic human troubles.
The actors chosen for this version were clearly chosen rightfully so. The body language and appearances sell the characters these actors are portraying.
The set belongs in a museum. It accurately depicts what an apartment in lower Manhattan looks like, especially being newly moved in with barely any furniture. The set makes the play more realistic with having the power go off and loud noises coming from the upstairs neighbor — because what Manhattan apartment is complete without one?
The play presents a rich element of family that is naturally produced by the actors chosen. With the lights dimming out and the set noise slowly coming to a halt, the show gained a standing ovation from the people of Boston.
I knew after 10 minutes that the show would be a hit, earning many laughs from the crowd throughout the 99-minute show.
The play did leave off on an ending that did make me furious and left me with questions I know I’ll never know the answer to, but I would, without a doubt, watch this show about 50 more times.
I would strongly recommend anyone over the age of 15 to see this play if they ever have the chance to do so. For me, personally running out of date-night ideas, took this opportunity as a night in the city. A night 100 prcent well spent.
(“The Humans” is at Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont St., Boston, from March 13-25. Some scenes contain mature content that may not be appropriate for students younger than in high school. For information or tickets, go to http://www.bochcenter.org/thehumans.)
