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Scissoring

By Christina Quintana; Directed by Estefanía Fadul

Off Broadway, Play 
Runs through 6.30.18
INTAR Theatre, 500 West 52nd Street

 

by Katharine Nedder 6.11.18

 

TemplateMarie Louise Guinier and Vanessa R. Butler in Scissoring. Photo by Carol Rosegg.

 

BOTTOM LINE: Scissoring, spearheaded by seven powerhouse actors, is a quirky look at love, sexuality, and acceptance.

When Abigail (Vanessa R. Butler) takes a job at a Catholic School after feeling connected to its traditions (she was raised Catholic), she decides she must step back into the closet at work. Her longtime girlfriend Josie (Ashley Marie Ortiz) obviously doesn't agree with this decision, but it's one that is reinforced by Abigail's conservative boss Elaine (Kim Brockington) who, upon deciding that Abigail's engagement ring points to her being a widow, continually tries to set her up with the strangest of suitors. Brockington possesses a strength onstage that is instantly compatible with Butler's nervous energy, making the two an unlikely and at times hilarious pair.

As the stress of living a double life gets to Abigail, she begins having "visions" of sorts; primarily that of Lorena Hickock (Marie Louise Guinier) and her alleged lover Eleanor Roosevelt (Elise Santora). These characters serve as "voices of reason" and "voices of passion" as Abigail strives to find balance in her life. The instant chemistry between Guinier and Santora, including their witty banter and wacky characterizations, steals the show—the two are a joy to watch in every scene they're in.

Another scene-stealer is Ryan Vincent Anderson as both Father Ray—a likely closeted priest at Abigail's school, and the "PA System"—a range of judgmental religious figures, who, like Eleanor and Lorena, are a figment of Abigail's imagination. Anderson's hilarious and often back-to-back character changes, most notably the sassy blonde "PA Woman" who is constantly calling Abigail out for her lifestyle choices, serve as much needed comic relief when dealing with such relevant and heavy subject matter. 

Abigail finds solace in coworker Celia (Ally Carey), a lovable yet naive married woman. As the two grow closer, it seems that Celia's life is not as perfect as it appears, forcing them to rely on each other to make difficult decisions about their relationships and the future. And as Abigail's mental state and career choice both begin to impact her relationship with Josie, we see these two women, who show such obvious love for each other at the beginning, deal with these changes in a heartbreaking way. Both Butler and Ortiz are shameless and brave in their portrayal of these vastly different and highly passionate women.

I cannot speak highly enough of the level of acting in this production; the hard work, love, and care present in Scissoring are extraordinarily clear. The ensemble cast, ably directed by Estefanía Fadul, does the difficult subject matter justice, and then some. But Christina Quintana's play, if perhaps somewhat ground-breaking and certainly fascinating, ultimately bites off more than it can chew, especially in just over 90 minutes. Between Abigail and Josie's relationship, Abigail's relationship with her coworkers, the Catholic Church's relationship with homosexuality, and the added layer of Lorena and Eleanor, the decentralized plot gets confusing at times. I found myself wanting more information for each story line rather than other extraneous details. That said, Scissoring is an excellent and thought-provoking piece sure to inspire both a laugh and a tear. 

(Scissoring plays at INTAR Theater, 500 West 52nd Street, through June 30, 2018. Running time is 95 minutes with no intermission. Performances are Sundays at 7; Mondays at 8; and Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8. Tickets are $35 and are available at intartheatre.org.)

 

Scissoring is by Christina Quintana. Directed by Estefanía Fadul. Set Design by Raul Abrego. Lighting Design by Christina Watanabe. Sound Design by Fan Zhang. Stage Manager is Fran Acuna-Almiron.

The cast is Ryan Vincent Anderson, Kim Brockington, Vanessa R. Butler, Ally Carey, Marie Louise Guinier, Ashley Marie Ortiz, and Elise Santora.