Death, a second chance at life, and a journey to understanding

First some adjectives: powerful, compelling, noteworthy, spellbinding, tear-jerking, and meaningful.

These only begin to describe the story, the acting, the direction, and the effects of Epilogue Players’ current offering – The Tin Woman. The play, by Sean Grennan, deals with loss and discovery, heartache and joy, living and dying – and does it in a unique set of vignettes that unfold the effects of one man’s death and of his donated heart, which goes to a fragile and uncertain woman.

We first meet Joy in her post-op hospital room, in her mid-30s and given this remarkable second chance at life – a replacement heart. Next, we meet the donor’s family, dealing with the loss of their son in a manner that damages the solidity of their relationships – the mother, Alice, trying to cope with having to move on in spite of the pain; the father, Hank, angry at everything that means.

The twist comes when we learn that Joy is nearly as miserable as the family members, wondering why she is the lucky one, why this young man’s death was the essential cog to her surviving. She isn’t coping with it any better than the man’s family is.

An eventual meeting of the principals doesn’t go well at first, but eventually leads to new understandings and new horizons.

The production is excellently compiled by veteran director Nicole Amsler, who has been blessed with an outstanding cast. Careful and thoughtful work has been done here, finding the humor and the sorrow in this story and projecting it all into a truly remarkable and relatable theatre experience.

Darla (Mary DeBoer, left) visits her friend Joy (Laura Gellin). (Photo by Rob Slaven / IndyGhostLight.com)

Laura Gellin is just perfect as the heart recipient, Joy. Ms. Gellin finds truth and conveys it as Joy feels less and less sure that her survival is the best thing that has ever happened to her. Her friend, Darla – played with bubbly non-conformity by Mary DeBoer – encourages her to seek a connection with her donor’s family and Joy is hopeful she might thus shed her uncertainties.

Tanya Haas plays Alice, with a fervor and an understanding that I know she holds in her heart. This mother is doing the best she can, or at least is trying to in the face of her son’s death and her additional concerns for her husband, Hank, offered by Eric Bryant. Hank holds a grudge on the entire world, it seems. Bryant evenly portrays his internal chaos and his external pain due to the loss he has faced in a very well-formed turn.

Lauren Janning is delightful as Sammy, the daughter in the family, who faces everything with a new-age outlook, and offers some much-needed humor to the mix. Matt McKee takes on the role of Jack, the departed son. In a brilliant addition to the story, Jack is always there – unseen, but tenderly caring for the world he has left in terms of his family and of the new person with his heart. Presented also in some flashbacks of Jack while alive, McKee is able to fill in some gaps with his solid work.

Sarah Froehlke smartly handles the short but hilarious Nurse role at the onset of the story.

Bottom Line: This is an outstanding achievement, both in its script and in the presentation given by this amazing group of actors. I would label it must-see as well as must-bring-tissues. Go see it!

The Tin Woman continues at Epilogue Players’ Alabama St. playhouse through April 26. For more information about dates, times, and reservations go to EpiloguePlayers.com.

Read more great play reviews from A Seat on the Aisle at asota.wordpress.com.