A gripping, 90 minute show in an intimate, air conditioned theatre. This sounds like the perfect way to spend the evening if you ask me. Especially when the show is SO GOOD.
This is the last call for Off by One at People’s Light in Malvern, the show ends on July 7th. Off By One by Emmy Award-winner Joseph Dougherty and directed by the theatre’s Executive Artistic Director, Emerita Abigail Adams explores the powerful connections that can be made and the stories told, all because of a single number. Have you ever texted the wrong person? Wrote a number down wrong or slipped when typing it in to send a message? If you did, you likely apologized (or didn’t respond at all), and moved on. But in Off by One, two women question whether it was a mistake at all…
Broadway veteran and Academy Award nominee David Strathairn (Good Night, and Good Luck, The Bourne Ultimatum), leads the cast as poet Douglas Roote. When someone from his past, Myra (played by Mary Elizabeth Scallen), reaches out to his son to offer condolences, she accidently texts Fran (Claire Inie-Richards) instead.
Fran isn’t so sure it was accidental, believing she was meant to be on the other end of the message. As she gives herself a crash course in the poet’s work, Myra unveils more about her time spent with Douglas. The story bounces back and forth between the new friendship formed because of the text, and Douglas himself reflecting on his life and work.
Off by One leaves us thinking about the accidents and mistakes we may have encountered recently. Were they really meant to be after all?
This is another must-see show of the season, something I say more often than not. I saw the show a little over a week ago and haven’t stopped thinking about it. If you can find time this week, please get tickets before it closes.
For tickets, visit www.peopleslight.org.
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