‘Alabaster’ is one of the most well-written body’s of work I have seen on stage in a while.
Written by playwright Audrey Cefaly, ‘Alabaster’ is set in northern Alabama in the town of Alabaster and is a funny and poignant new play about healing and the power of women.
For three years since the death of her family in a tornado that left her covered in scars, June has been living and creating “outsider” art in an isolated Alabama farmhouse, with only her goats for company. When a New York photographer working on a series about women with scars arrives, the attraction between June and Alice is palpable — but what they need from each other transcends anything physical.
“I love the play’s edgy theatricality and deft mix of comedy and drama,” says director Casey Stangl. “It attacks some very complex subjects — trauma, grief and the healing power of art — with a complete lack of sentimentality that is filled with humor and humanity.”
Through Stangl’s direction, this all female cast June (Virginia Newcomb), last seen at the Fountain in On the Spectrum and A House Not Meant to Stand,and Alice (Erin Pineda), whose L.A. credits include The Tempest, Love and Information and As You Like It at Antaeus Theatre Company it is hard to imagine that this isn’t based on a true story.
June is struggling to come to grips with the untimely deaths of her entire family and is left with two goats, Weezy (Carolyn Messina), who originated the role in the world premiere production at Florida Repertory Theatre; and Bib (Laura Gardner), known for Marilyn, Mom & Me at International City Theatre, King Charles III at the Pasadena Playhouse, and Razorback at Rogue Machine, who she develops a strong emotional bond with.
We watch Alice attempt to breathe life into June by allowing herself to see her potential outside of the farm that is filled with her art which is created on the broken pieces of the farm’s barn which held her father in his final moments.
The set design is beautifully arranged by Jenine MacDonald and Frederica Nascimento which used the stage in a dynamic way.
Rebecca Carr did a magnificent job dressing the actors and Allison Bibicoff’s intimacy direction was not over top and felt authentic.
I had an opportunity to speak with Newcomb who explained that rehearsals occurred during the L.A. wildfires which seems cathartic in that this play revolves around a natural disaster.
“Things really came together during the final week of rehearsal and I couldn’t be more proud of the work we’ve done,” said Newcomb.
It is easy to see why this play was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for authentic storytelling and is definitely worth adding to your theatre to see list!
Alabaster is now playing at the Fountain Theatre with performances on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through March 30.
The Fountain Theatre is located at 5060 Fountain Avenue (at Normandie) in Los Angeles. Patrons are invited upstairs to relax before and after the show at the Fountain’s café. For reservations and information, call (323) 663–1525 or go to FountainTheatre.com.