Unveiling the Power of Virtual Therapy in “Ugly Lies”
Rachel Moulton has captivated audiences at the Florida Studio Theatre for the past twelve years with her deeply dedicated and personal performances in a wide range of lighthearted comedies and gripping dramas. In her latest role as Jess in Lindsey Ferrentino’s “Ugly Lies,” which opens the Stage III series of the theater in 2024, Moulton takes the audience on an emotional journey, depicting the physical and emotional pain of a war veteran returning home from three tours in Afghanistan with a seriously disfigured face and severe bodily injuries. Every step and head movement she makes elicits disgust or a sense of suffering, cutting deep as she tries to improve her outlook with the help of virtual reality therapy.
Similar treatments have also been showcased in the Urbanite theater season in Jacqueline Goldfinger’s one-woman play “Backward Forward Backward,” where the protagonist was a military veteran attempting to cope with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Of course, these plays cannot fully demonstrate all the possibilities of such virtual therapy without more ambitious productions and higher technological budgets. But we don’t really need visuals to understand how an immersive recording taking Jess through soothing images of snowy mountains can help her move forward.
Jess must confront numerous difficulties. She has given up the life she envisioned as a teacher with a loving family, in order to serve her country. It’s understandable that she feels bitter and frustrated, both due to the physical pain and the way others treat her. Old acquaintances fail to recognize her, and she struggles to find employment. She’s stuck in the house of her older sister Kacie, who seems to have achieved the personal and professional aspirations Jess had imagined for herself.
Ferrentino also touches upon the broader consequences of Jess’s trauma for her family and friends. Amanda Jill Robinson sensitively portrays Kacie, trying to balance her own life while supporting Jess, uncertain about what might trigger an attack in her sister. She must also deal with a mother who can no longer live in their family estate in the Cosmic Coast district.
One of the triggers happens to be Kacie’s boyfriend Kevin, a charming but aimless man played by Alex Teicheira, who seems to be some kind of opportunist living off government support checks, which only fuels Jess’s anger. He may be a nice guy, but Jess’s trust has evaporated.
And then there’s Jess’s ex-boyfriend Stevie, a prankster of sorts, portrayed by Johnny Shea. Ferrentino gradually reveals the history of their relationship, so that we only discover the true nature of it in the end. Johnny is now married and works at a convenience store after losing his job at NASA (we never really find out what kind of work he did). It’s clear that there’s still a spark between them.
The play is delicately realized by Kristin Clippard, who recently directed the superb “The Sound Inside” at Urbanite. The star of this production, Vickie Daignault, plays the nearly invisible role of Jess’s guiding therapist throughout the treatment program.
There were moments when I wanted to know more details about past events or wished Ferrentino delved deeper into the subject of virtual therapy. However, Clippard and her cast clearly help the audience understand the characters, their challenges, the horrors of war, and the problems that veterans often have to navigate on their own.
FAQ
1. What is the play “Ugly Lies” about?
The play “Ugly Lies” by Lindsey Ferrentino tells the story of Jess, a war veteran returning from Afghanistan with serious bodily injuries and a disfigured face. The play focuses on her life after coming home and the difficulties she must face.
2. What other plays touch on the subject of virtual therapy?
In the Urbanite theater season, there was a play called “Backward Forward Backward” by Jacqueline Goldfinger, also addressing the topic of virtual therapy. This play featured a military veteran dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.
3. What challenges does Jess have to face?
Jess has to deal with physical pain, difficulties finding employment, facing the changed appearance, and losing her previous vision of life as a teacher.
4. What are the consequences of Jess’s trauma for her family and friends?
Jess’s trauma also has wider consequences for her family and friends. Her sister Kacie and mother have to find ways to cope with the situation, and her ex-boyfriend Stevie is still present in her life.
5. Who are the main characters in the play?
The main characters in the play are Jess, Kacie (Jess’s sister), Kevin (Kacie’s boyfriend), and Stevie (Jess’s ex-boyfriend).
6. Who directed the play?
The play “Ugly Lies” was directed by Kirstin Clippard.
For additional information, please visit the Florida Studio Theatre’s website.
The source of the article is from the blog windowsvistamagazine.es