"Uma Vida Imaginária"

June 28, 2015 — For the final show of their season, theatre KAPOW presented Nick Farewell's "Uma Vida Imaginária" at the Derry Opera House in Derry, New Hampshire. I've always believed it must be much more difficult for two actors to carry a play than a large cast, especially one like this with a large amount of dialog. But Carey Cahoon as "the woman" and Mark Marshall as "the man" were excellent in this unusual production, directed by Matt Cahoon.

Performed before a sparse audience on a rainy Sunday afternoon, this play deserved a larger audience. A married couple share frustration over the oppressiveness of their humdrum lives. Performed on a simple set with minimal props, augmented by the most ingenious lighting and projections I've ever seen, thanks to lighting design by Tayva Young and projection design by Wax Idiotical Films, the actors do their own furniture rearranging between the many short scenes.

Besides great acting, I think what makes the play compelling is that we can all relate to the frustration of the characters over boredom with their everyday lives that are taken up with jobs, paying the bills, household chores, and petty disagreements that sometimes turn into major hostilities, while they dream of greater things. I hope they get better attendance for this evening's performance. It's too good to miss.