“Over” at FringeNYC 2014 at the Sheen Center Black Box (Closes on Thursday August 21, 2014)
“Over” at FringeNYC 2014 at the Sheen Center Black Box (Closes on Thursday August 21, 2014) Written by Dave Chapman Directed by Bryan Enk Reviewed by Theatre Reviews Limited
Dave Chapman’s “Over” would appear to be the obverse of M. Night Shyamaian’s “The Sixth Sense.” In the latter movie the boy played by Haley Joel Osment is able to see dead people. In “Over,” those among the living are able to see the deceased Tabitha (Becky Byers) who transports her spirit self – after committing suicide – to the side of her sister Nicole (Alisha Spielmann) to become her “guardian angel.” Tabitha appears in Nicole’s apartment right after Nicole is dumped by her boyfriend Jack (Adam Belvo) who is so codependent he never makes it out the door after the breakup. Of course he could not leave because the playwright needs him with Nicole to further his convoluted and unlikely plot.
Nicole and Jack are joined by Nicole’s neighbor and co-jogger Spence (Brian Siliman) who of course also is able to see Tabitha. By the way, the spritely Tabitha experiences hunger and pain – traits intended perhaps to keep the audience in suspense rather than falling into somnambulism and to keep Spence busy making pancakes in the kitchen. It takes Nicole almost the full overlong two hours and twenty minutes to figure out the Tabitha Code – Jack and Spencer somewhat less. During this time, Jack and Nicole continue to bicker and Tabitha continues to whine and Spence attempts to referee the melee. Spence and Jack leave Nicole and Tabitha alone in the apartment to begin the process of spiritual healing. As they leave, Tabitha tells sleep-deprived Jack he would make a great guardian angel and she tells overweight Spence he is in danger. Car accident and heart attack in the making?
“Over” is overlong and overwrought and provides little payoff. The characters, particularly Nicole, are uninteresting and Nicole is downright unlikeable. If Tabitha can help Nicole reach some level of adulthood and civility, she will earn her guardian angel wings.
OVER
“Over” is presented by KRM Productions in Association with The Present Company (Elena K Holy, Producing Artistic Director). Directed by Bryan Enk.
The cast of “Over” includes Adam Belvo, Becky Byers, Brian Silliman, and Alisha Spielmann.
For performance schedule, ticketing information and more information about the presenting company, please visit www.FringeNYC.org. For mobile ticketing, please visit www.FringeonTheFly.com. The running time is 2 hours and 20 minutes with one 15 minute intermission.
Permalink | Posted by David Roberts on Saturday, August 16, 2014
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