MOXIE Theatre closes its first full season with Bridget Carpenter’s “Fall.” Associate Artistic Director Jennifer Eve Thorn stages the work. Jennifer Sowden is assistant director and choreographer.
Carpenter’s first play, the appealing, quirky work copped the prestigious Susan Smith Blackburn Award for 1999-2000.
Judging from the audience size at a matinee Sunday, July 2, MOXIE is attracting a cadre of fans impressed by excellence.
“Fall” concerns 14-year-old Lydia (the compelling Nicole Monet) whose attitude shows when her mom (Liv Kellgren) and dad (Craig Huisenga) book all three of them into a swing camp, where a sweet guy named Gopal (Brandon Walker) teaches the Lindy Hop and other dances.
The story, which concerns serious issues of teen angst and self-identity, marital infidelity and sexual molestation, is told by Lydia, whose narrative is by turns sarcastic, romantic, surreal and downright scary.
Despite the subject matter, “Fall” is outrageously funny. The comedy comes from character and the audience grows to care, especially for Lydia.
Ernest T. Dela Cruz and Jamie Lloyd provide examples of the dance, and MOXIE debutant Robert Kirk portrays a conflicted family friend who is also enrolled at the camp.
“Fall” continues at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday, through July 16 at Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd. Tickets, which are $25, are available by visiting www.moxietheatre.com or calling (760) 634-3965.