Good Mourning
Reviewed by Taylor Kass
The Hudson Theatres
Through September 8
Grief is too great a burden to bear alone. But because Good Mourning is a one-man show, grieving father Ernest doesn’t have much choice. Without family, close friends, or a therapist to confide in, he begins to talk to his late daughter’s stuffed animals as he wrestles with her death, dark secrets from his past, and a seemingly-hopeless future. Written and performed by Hosea Chanchez, Good Mourning is a study of the devastating effects of loss and loneliness, and the particular pain that men face when they’ve been taught their whole lives to bury their feelings with the dead.
Yes, it’s funny to watch a grown man invest so completely in imaginary interactions with a teddy bear — to see Ernest offer Teddy a drink of gin and dare him to kiss a Cabbage Patch doll. It’s also profoundly sad to watch him reach out so desperately for connection, to tell his daughter’s doll secrets that he’s never said out loud before. As a playwright, Hosea Chanchez is a compelling and detailed storyteller, if prone to clichés. As grieving father Ernest, he balances the weight and anger of mourning with bright spots of humor and an easy charm. Chanchez also curated the projections that are splashed over the set and provide a glimpse into Ernest’s memories, dreams, and fears.
Chanchez reveals in his playbill note that he “wrote this play as a form of therapy for us all.” Good Mourning definitely feels like a therapy session, guided by imaginary prompting from the chorus of stuffed animals. And that’s why this play lags in pace overall, despite a few engrossing stories. Ernest’s journey out of isolation is primarily internal. His eyes are almost always on the floor or on the toy a couple feet in front of him, making it difficult for the audience to connect with him despite the small theatre space. While this self-reflection is wholly worthwhile for any individual experiencing loss, it feels too self-indulgent and inwardly focused to create the audience-performer bond that makes solo performance captivating.
Hudson Mainstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood; Sat., 3 p.m.; Sun., 8 p.m.; through Sep. 8. www.onstage411.com/goodmourning. Running time: approximately 75 minutes with no intermission.
