By Eva Trieger
CORONADO, California — Director Kira Blaskovich writes that Exit, Pursued by a Bear is a tale of “forgiving and moving past the blame game.” And while this is so, Lauren Gunderson’s play of the unraveling of a marriage is much bigger, and louder, than that.
Coronado Playhouse brings us this clever, unusual show that relies on the re-enactment of events that have led Kyle (Eric Peterson) and Nan (Kaitlyn Summers) Carter to this point of no return. Their six-year union began with a quirky first date, and devolved into a hurtful, disappointing marriage, a mountain of abuse and recriminations. Nan, bolstered by best friend Simon (Isai Luna) and her new pal, Sweetheart/Peaches (Ruth Russell), has had all she can take. Her plan to leave Kyle involves duct taping him to a chair in a cabin to which she plans to lure the local bears.
The dark humor is as thick as the Georgia accents. The multitude of former President Jimmy Carter quotes is charming and fortifying. As Sweetheart role plays the various “scenes” from the unhappy couple’s conjoined lives, the audience is invited in to experience the hurt and confusion on Nan’s part. Kyle, when the duct tape is removed, evidences how little insight he has had into his actions and how they landed. He pleads with Nan to remember the good times.
Simon, a flamboyantly gay man (adorable as a cheerleader), and devoted bestie to Nan, is steadfast in his protection of her and fears she will succumb to Kyle’s attempt to persuade her that the love they’d share can be rekindled. He is certainly a tour de force, and his allegiance to Nan rings true.
Peaches is another highlight of this cast, wielding duct tape and providing the solidarity of sisterhood to women everywhere. It is obvious that this actress has trained at the foot of our local industry masters including Jo Anne Glover, Jacqueline Ritz and Justin Lang.
The clever use of captions above the stage help the audience follow the story’s sequence as we move backwards and forwards in time. While life may not hand us many Mulligans, Exit, Pursued by a Bear, demonstrates that sometimes, through honest introspection we can create a new, more positive trajectory in our lives.
Exit, Pursued by a Bear runs until Sept. 8. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 619.435.4856 or online at CoronadoPlayhouse.org
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Eva Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts.