“Cuddles” Strange But Fascinating
By Skip Sheffield
“Cuddles” is without a doubt the strangest play I’ve seen in
2016. That is not a bad thing. The play continues through Dec. 11 at Arts
Garage, 94 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach.
“Cuddles” is a debut play by young (age 30) British writer
Joseph Wilde. You could say Mr. Wilde knocked it out of the park his first time
at bat. The play was heralded at its 2012 London debut, and it gained more
accolades in its 2015 New York run. The Delray run is directed by Keith
Garrison; a guy who likes to shake things up.
“Cuddles” is set up like a fairy tale. It even begins with
“Once upon a time.”
It is explained that a King yearned for a son, but got two
daughters instead. They are the confident, in-charge Tabby (Vera Samuels) and
the insecure, reclusive Eve (Emily Freeman). Eve is in fact a prisoner in her
dingy little bedroom. Tabby has raised her while trying to have a life of her
own. Eve lives in a fantasy world, and it’s not very pretty. Eve has convinced
herself she is a vampire. She can’t go outside because sunlight will kill her.
She can’t look into a mirror. To satisfy Eve’s craving for blood, Tabby lets
her feed upon her.
Clearly this is not a normal or healthy relationship. In the
course of 80 short minutes without intermission, we learn the root of Eve’s
trauma.
The role of Eve is an actress’s dream, and Emily Freeman
does it full justice. She plays the entire role in her underwear, crawling and
writhing around; scary one moment, lovable the next.
Tabby is a stone-cold bitch; foul-mouthed and vindictive at
work and abusive of pathetic Eve. But Tabby truly loves Eve, and would love to
have her come outside and experience the real world. When Tabby meets a suitor
named Steve, the wish becomes an imperative.
Unlike most fairy tales, this one does not have a happy
ending. It will leave you pondering the meaning of family, dependence, the
responsibility of love and the possibility of change. Yes it is weird, but it
is nothing if not fascinating. If this play were rated, it would be a hard R,
so take note.
Tickets are $45. Call 561-459-6357 or go to www.artsgarage.org.
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