An Unchartered Journey- Donna Orbits the Moon at Scripps Ranch

For 90 minutes, Clausen brought us through the full gamut of human emotions.  The actor experiences and delivers everything from fear, rage, tenderness, anger, grief, and peace.  And we, the audience, are swept up in this tidal wave of human sensibilities.

At root, the play illustrates the isolation of being a selfless mother-wife-middle-aged woman in our current society.  Having dedicated her entire adult life to spouse, children, bake sales, and homemaking, Donna’s unbidden emotional outbursts feel alien to her. Not only are her actions and reactions baffling to her, but her husband, daughter, and fellow parishioners are also at a loss to explain this emotional lability.  There is no place where Donna can escape her inner turmoil; she “must go up before you land.”

The energy and breadth of Clausen’s acting are extraordinary.  Inhabiting the Midwest, with a flawless accent and colloquialisms, Donna was authentic and relatable. Through her reminiscences, we learned about her family members as we’re invited into sharing the sweet memories of raising her young children.

Donna’s journey is visceral.  Her confusion is not only apparent in her eyes and body language, but is made evident in her monologue as she struggles to make sense of her world and how she arrived at this place.

The clever use of an off-stage voice (Erick Poppick) and the musical backdrop provide the setting for this celestial emotional trek, as Donna navigates her internal and external worlds. The intimacy of this theatre space lends an even greater sense of entree to Donna’s interior world, and the actor successfully engaged every member of the audience.

This show is truly profound, impactful, and unique. There is so much packed into the one act that reflecting upon the content and messages is yet unfolding.

Donna orbits the Moon runs through February 15th.  Tickets may be purchased at  scrippsranchtheatre.com or by phone at 858.395.0573.