I don't review preview performances, but "The Match Game" deserves attention. One reason is that it demonstrates just how all the different elements of a theatrical production come together to produce great art.
Director Jared D. Doren, who I've worked with as a playwright myself, is a fantastic collaborator. His attention to detail is one of the many things that makes his productions so good; another is how he approaches the show. Story comes first, characters are next, and the technical elements must all work together to support the playwright's vision. He's also great at shaping new scripts by suggesting cuts, edits, and additions to enhance the layers in the script - frequently layers that the playwright isn't even fully aware they wrote.
At least, that has been my experience.
In this piece, Doren must guide the team and cast through the messiness of life’s sucky parts to find the humor and pathos. And He must make sure each character is well-defined and not over-the-top while doing so. Doren also has to make sure the pace of the show is appropriate as to not ever lose the audience’s attention while also making sure every word is heard (not an easy task with overlapping dialogue). And I will tell you that this show is a directorial success.
While I'm sure Jared is exhausted—he's also the full-time programming and events manager for ETC—I can also imagine his excitement at collaborating with this amazing cast and creative team.
The cast is an absolute who's who of Cincinnati's finest; the physical and confident Bruce Cromer, the magnificent and emotional Jennifer Joplin, the reliable and versatile Jared Joplin, the underrated and powerful Allen R. Middleton, the mesmerizing and breathtaking Deb G. Girdler, and emerging stars hilarious Henry Howland and sweet Savannah Boyd are perfectly cast in their various roles. They all work together to tell this family story, written by Steven Stafford. (Strafford won PLAY/write: The Jackie Demaline Regional Collegiate Playwriting Competition for this script, which led to this world premiere.)
As usual, Brian c. Mehring has designed and lit a perfect set. Matt Callahan designed the sound, including well-timed and pulse-raising effects and music that drives the plot. Hannah Dringenburg is the wig designer, making Deb Girdler look precisely how her character should. Shannon Rae Lutz, one of the most underrated stage magicians in town, dressed the set and filled it with details that make it feel real for both the audience and the actors. Maria Fernanda Ortiz Lopez designed modern costumes that produce laughs but also accentuate the reality of the contemporary era. Emily Egner (choreographer) and Melissa Bennett (fight director) ensured all the movements were safe and appropriate for the mood. If you read the program, you'll see on page 8 a lengthy list of other contributors to this production, all important to ensuring a successful show. Remember the stage management team, including Regina Pugh and assistant Lexi Mueller, who keep the entire thing on the rails.
All of the fine work that is produced at ETC also requires the teamwork of the folks who spend each day overseeing operations - like D. Lynn Meyers, Producing Artistic Director and CEO, Torie Wiggins, Artistic Associate, Jen Joplin, director of Development (and one of the stars of this play), the entire marketing team, Amy Weinstock at the box office, the house staff, all the production and technical wizards in the workshop, Nick in security, and the education wing.
It takes tremendous work to produce art as excellent as this. While, again, this is not a review, I will tell you that "The Match Game" is a fine play with an amazing cast, deft direction, a relevant and resonating story, and some hilarious hijinx mixed with intense drama. Strafford somehow makes cancer, dementia, divorce, parental neglect, and other terrible realities very, very funny.
I definitely recommend the show; if you'd like, come to a pre-show discussion on Sunday, April 28th at 1pm with my friend, Dr. Connie Boehner, and me about how one can use humor to cope with terminal illnesses - and then stay for the matinee. Or just come to our discussion and see the show another time! (Register for our discussion here.)
Regardless of when, see “The Match Game.” You’ll be glad you did.
THE MATCH GAMES runs at Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati through May 5, 2024. Tickets and more information can be found here.