by Shirley Lorraine

The Roommate Delivers at SPTC

Be careful what you ask for. You will probably get much more than you bargained for. This is the basis of what happens in The Roommate, a multi-layered play of possibilities written by Jen Silverman now playing at the Santa Paula Theater Center through June 26.

Cynthia Killion fills the role of Sharon, a middle-aged divorcee whose hum-drum existence in Iowa City is in dire need of refurbishment. Her advertisement for a roommate is answered by Robyn, played by Kathleen Bosworth. The two couldn’t be more different. Their lifestyles are polar opposites. And the excitement begins as they learn about each other and settle into new routines.

Sharon spends her days in an empty-nest fog, not really recognizing some realities about her life. Robyn has apparently come to Iowa to shed one lifestyle and try another, but Sharon’s relentless inquiries force her to grapple with her own realities Sharon, a “retired” housewife and mother takes each day as routine, brews the coffee, goes to her reading group. Robyn is a former scam artist, mother, vegan and pot-smoking lesbian. Despite their many differences, they find they actually have quite a bit in common at the core.

The play is hilariously blunt in its middle-class familiarity. Conversations begin the way many of our own do, then take a wild turn. Silverman’s dialogue is brilliant as the ladies’ lines mirror many of our own inner thoughts. We wonder about many things but often don’t verbalize them. Sharon and Robyn, however, do not hold back.

They are frank, revealing and surprising as both women come to realizations about themselves as their unlikely friendship develops. Both the characters are beautifully developed and masterfully delivered Killion and Bosworth. The result is a delightful, laugh-filled evening of satisfying theater.

The play is directed by Taylor Kasch, who no doubt had his hands full guiding and polishing these two accomplished actors. Set designer Mike Carnahan created a lovely tract home interior kitchen setting that is quite detailed, complete with luscious landscaping outside the double doors to the patio. I would live there!

Presented without intermission, even the scene changes and resulting actions glimpsed by diminished lighting add tremendously to the continuity. The actors tidy their table, pour their coffee, continue with the daily minutiae of life and move forward as we all do, often on autopilot. Life goes on, even as its trajectory changes, sometimes drastically.

To reveal more would be a great disservice. Audiences will need to discover for themselves how these two women adjust, cope and triumph. The journey is well worth the wait.

Covid precautions are still in place. Masks are optional and vaccination status is required. The night I attended there were plenty of seats to facilitate distancing, but this play deserves a full house so be prepared to comply for everyone’s comfort and safety.

Performances continue Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. 805-525-4645, www.santapaulatheatercenter.org, [email protected].

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
The Lost City – Paramount +

In The Lost City, popular romance author Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) had just finished novel number twenty, and began what she wanted to be her last book tour with her handsome book cover model named Alan (Channing Tatum). Fiction quickly became real life for both of them when Loretta got kidnapped by billionaire Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliff) believing she could actually help him to find the lost treasure that was the focus of her recent exotic adventure novel.

In her latest novel “The Lost City of D” Loretta described an ancient lost city that was discovered by fictional heroine Dr. Angela Lovemore and her dashing love interest Dash McMahon, portrayed by cover model Alan Caprison. In the story the queen wore a “Crown of Fire” that was a priceless treasure thought to still be in a special tomb in the fabled lost city.

In the book Loretta used actual archaeology research she had done with her husband, who passed away five years earlier and was why she decided to become a reclusive writer. Eccentric billionaire Abigail Fairfax had recognized the validity of the symbols in her book, and was on a quest to find what he believed to be a crown of fire rubies.

Abigail had his henchmen snatch Loretta from her book tour and asked her if she would join him in locating the treasure. Loretta declined, so Abigail drugged her on took her on his private jet to the island where he believed the tomb with the treasure he sought was located. He had bought the southern half of a remote Atlantic island where clues surfaced regarding the lost city when the volcano on the island became active.

Meanwhile, Alan who was enamored with Loretta, saw her get snatched and told her publisher Beth (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) and with no assistance from the authorities, they set out to rescue Loretta. Alan recruited Jack Trainer (Brad Pitt) former Navy SEAL turned CIA operative to aid in the rescue, who was able to locate Loretta from her smart watch and told Alan he would met him on the island.

When Loretta awoke Abigail handed her some ancient parchment to translate that he believed would help him find the treasure. Unfortunately much of the parchment was missing, so Loretta could only make out a few words, which frustrated Abigail who knew she had studied ancient languages and was the reason he kidnapped her.

Jack located the compound where Loretta was being held, and though he told Alan to stay behind, Alan wanted to be there when Loretta was rescued so followed behind against Jack’s wishes. Jack gave in and told Alan to just stay alive while he used his ninja like skills to stealthily take out all the guards and find Loretta.

Throughout it all, Loretta wore a bright pink sequinned jumpsuit and was actually rescued being rolled out in a wheelbarrow strapped to a chair as cars exploded while Jack casually tossed back is long hair. More adventures awaited Loretta and Alan in the jungle as Abigail pursued them, not knowing that the treasure he sought may not be what he thought.

The chemistry between Bullock and Tatum is very entertaining, and Pitt is the perfect zen ninja.

Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 1h 52m