The always-great Sandra Birch is Carol, pounding on the door of a not-supposed-to-be-closed-yet independent video store, finally to be greeted by lackadaisical clerk Jen, played by the talented Jamie Lien, dressed in her “sexy pizza” Halloween costume. Why is Carol so desperate to get that “Maria at Midnight” video?
With the aid of likable, fatherly video-owner/boss Bob (Scott Norman) these two women develop a quirky relationship as the surly clerk/film student warms up to the mysterious middle aged customer, introducing her to the “new release” movies she might like. I’m struck by the implications/ironies of the title, as this tale is set against the waning days of this particular video store. What is new? What is old? How do we cope with loss and change, as stores and people “close”?
Bartley H. Bauer’s set recreates the familiar video store atmosphere. Quintessa Gallinat’s music plays over scene changes (which provide time for costume changes, since the set itself doesn’t change, except for the holiday decorations, moving us along in time) while customers come and go at the store in a realistic enactment of “business”, complete with video-return-slot. The whole show is about 90 minutes with no intermission.
New Releases continues at Williamston Theatre through June 9.
517-655-SHOW (7469)
http://www.williamstontheatre.org