By DANIEL SHOCK
A Seat on the Aisle
The Body is a heartwarming tale of a stepfather, Joe, spending a week with his nine-year-old stepdaughter, Abby.
They spend the week waiting for Joe’s wife, Abby’s mother, to return from a trip. They visit the zoo, share meals, argue about how much TV is appropriate to watch, and whether to get rid of Abby’s early childhood toys. They also comfort each other as they anxiously await the return of the wife and mother, all while exploring the mysterious doll that arrived in a package on the front porch.
All is not as it seems. While it is true that the story starts off normally enough, with plenty of familiar humor and drama you’d expect from a situation comedy or a Neil Simon play, we know based on the title alone – not to mention the content warning in the lobby, the director’s notes, or the author’s notes in the program – that we are in for some twists and turns worthy of Rod Serling and M. Night Shyamalan. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil the story.
Bill Simmons is wonderfully cast as the stepfather, Joe. He has a face and demeanor that would have been perfect in a film noir or Twilight Zone episode. He carries a lot of emotional weight through this play, and I was moved by his performance. When an audience member had to briefly leave – and then come back right in the middle of a big moment – his face did not betray any loss of concentration or any hiccup in the moment. I bring this up not to shame the audience member – we have to do what we have to do – but to praise Mr. Simmons’s rock-solid commitment to his craft.
Also very well cast is Paige Elisse as Joe’s stepdaughter, Abby. Ms. Elisse has to play her as a 9-year-old and later as a 24-year-old. I could not say what her real age is, but I would bet it’s closer to 24 than 9. She creates an Abby that is sweet and selfish, just like any child trying to figure out the world. She never overplayed the role and made it easy to suspend our disbelief regarding her age.
Director Constance Macy and author Steve Moulds have created an eerie theatrical experience perfect for the time between Halloween and Thanksgiving. In their program notes, they both express their affinity for creepy theatrical experiences and the thoughtful horrors of the Twilight Zone. If you respond to those things, you will find a lot to like about this show.
This show, more than any I’ve seen in a while, really depends on props, set, lighting, and sound design. If any of those elements were not just right, the experience would be lesser. I am happy to say that the technical aspects of the show impressed me very much, and that Lighting Designer Michael Jackson, Set Designer Zac Hunter, Sound Designer Mike Lamirand, Costume Designer Tony Shirk, Stage Manager Jackie Mahon, and Assistant Stage Manager Kristen Went ALL contributed to the success of this show in more obvious ways than maybe a typical show.
I enjoyed this show very much. I will say that the ending left me with questions, but that is okay – it sits with me, and I ponder what exactly happened in front of me. It may be that it’s something like The Sixth Sense – that is not a hint; don’t let that take you down the wrong rabbit hole – in that watching it a second time may be a different experience.
Please be advised that there is a content warning posted in the lobby: “This play contains potentially offensive language and sensitive themes. For these reasons, we do not recommend it for those under the age of 14.”
The Body, produced by the Phoenix Theatre, is currently running at The Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre, 705 N. Illinois St., Indianapolis. The upcoming performances are scheduled as follows: Thursdays at 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. The show will run through Sunday, Nov. 19.
For tickets, please call the box office at (317) 635-7529 or purchase them online at phoenixtheatre.org/buy-tickets.
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