Review of "Close Up Space" by Molly Smith Metzler, playwright

Last night I attended my first stage reading. I was amazed. As a big fan of audio books and spoken word, I couldn’t believe how I haven’t been to more of these. I knew I was sold when the narrator announced the end of the first act and I wasn’t ready for intermission; I wanted more. The actors stood at podiums with few props, but they did not let that stop them from embracing their characters. The sun was set and the script came to life.

Usually at plays I get distracted by the crowd around me, the actors’ real lives, and the writing process for the playwrights; yet last night, I found myself entranced by it all. I found myself laughing with the audience and feeling for the characters. The stage came to life with the script, actions, and imagination.

Each character appealed to me. There was no villain nor nuisance, just simple-everyday-people. Their conflicts were more internal, than ex. To me represented 5 very different personalities with universal needs in a shared environment. The cynical workaholic editor who uses his work to ignore his heartache, the empathetic office manager who needs a shoulder to lean on himself, the naïve but intelligent intern who is only looking for one more credit to graduate and move on, and the heart-on-the-sleeve client whose books are top-sellers are all transformed by the passive-aggressive isolated daughter who uses her communication talents to break down the wall with her father.

Throughout the plot, the characters dealt with each situation true to form. It was exactly how I’d imagine, or expect that ‘type’ of person to react. Each situation was different, and more complicated than the last to the omniscient audience. The humor and gut-wrenching passion to fill one’s basic needs intertwined the acts. Though the story ends without any definite solutions, it provides a snapshot in the life of persons transformed by hope.

It reminded me of all the different people in my life and how important it is to be 100% just me around them. Everyone deserves honesty, even when its hard to say or admit.

I don’t want wonder if we are looking at the same snowflake because each one that falls is different.