(photo courtesy of Avanti Artist Collective)
Reviewed by Abigail Eulloqui
Avanti Artist Collective
Through Oct. 18
RECOMMENDED
(Photo courtesy of Avanti Artist Collective)
This review is part of the Stage Raw/Unusual Suspects Youth Journalism Fellowship.
We have all heard the saying “Curiosity killed the cat,” warning us to stay out of other people’s business. But what is the line between simple curiosity and an attempt at uncovering the truth? Stephen Belber’s Tape uncovers what happens when three people understand the same event in completely different ways. The Avanti Collective’s production of Tape, directed by Ignacio Serricchio, brings this complicated story of miscommunication to life.
The play starts as a casual reunion between two old friends, Jon (Jeremy Gimenez), an independent filmmaker, and Vince (Ignacio Sericchio, who also directs this production), a volatile drug dealer. However, their conversation takes a darker turn when Vince confronts Jon about an alleged assault involving Amy (Sasha Higgins) years before. When Amy enters the confrontation, the characters’ conflicting descriptions make it difficult to determine what truly happened.
The tensions among the three also gradually reveals how resentment can ruin such close bonds. The actors allow the strain to build and grow through their performances. Serricchio and Gimenez’s banter is quick and affectionate. As it gradually turns into hostile exchanges and dialogue, it reveals the bitterness underneath their relationship. Meanwhile, Higgins’s performance adds another layer of tension to the conflict. Her defensive reactions and guarded tone added doubt to the conflict and make it difficult to determine which character to believe. Her bewilderment and frustration grows through her tone and body language. Together, the three performances create a constantly shifting dynamic as each character shares a different version of what happened.
The production choices further strengthen the feeling of closeness and revelation. The intimacy of the setting puts you in the room with the characters, feeling immersive and focusing on the characters’ raw interactions. With that, the costumes are simple, yet each piece seems deliberately chosen to reflect the characters’ personalities. The differences in clothing subtly reflected on the characters’ different states and positions in life. Serriacho’s Vince wears more casual, unpolished clothing that reflects on his unstable lifestyle and mindset. In contrast, both Gimenez’s Jon and Higgins’ Amy are dressed in a manner more clean and dignified, expressing the comparatively stable lives they’ve built.
The play is an exciting rollercoaster, leaving the truth of what really happened among the friends uncertain. It is witty, uneasy, and gripping all at once. The actors’ performances continuously shift naturally between humor and discomfort, keeping the story compelling. They grab attention as each new revelation unfolds and builds the conflict. The truth may not always be as clear or one-sided as we might want it to be.
Avanti Artist Collective, 3619 Hayden Ave., Culver City; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm; thru Oct. 18. https://www.onstage411.com/newsite/boxoffice/cart.asp?show_id=8774&orgin=guest
