Sam Bianchini and Ren Martinez (Photo by Jonathan H. To)
Reviewed by Socks Whitmore
Wolf & Snake Collective and Season 10 Stage @ Atwater Village Theatre
Through June 28, 2025
RECOMMENDED
“Good people don’t deserve to be left behind.”
On the stage of a small 50-seat black box venue at Atwater Village Theatre, two inmates from Newport Women’s Correctional Facility find themselves surrounded by the abruptly unoccupied clothes of their cellmates and guards. In John Lavelle’s play Sinner’s Laundry, produced by Wolf & Snake Collective and Season 10 Stage, The Rapture has come to Rec Room #4 — but for some reason it hasn’t taken Sam and Jess. Locked in a room together in the dark, the two women wrestle with the possibility that they may be the only two people who were Left Behind, exploring relationship, redemption, and divinity as they get to know one another.
Directed by Celia Mandela Rivera, the story unwinds in an immersive setting, with the walls of the prison extended all the way into the lobby which is covered in informational signage. The stage also sports a shelf of cheap board games and a smattering of cheesy motivational posters such as the classic “Hang in there” kitten. Significant portions of the show take place in total darkness, with occasional moments of red strobe lighting. Audience members are forewarned there will be no bathroom breaks during the show, as the only exit is canonically locked.
The two-hander comedy stars Sam Bianchini and Ren Martinez, who switch roles each night and on Fridays flip a coin to determine who plays who — citing inspiration from the 2000 Broadway production of True West with Phillip Seymour Hoffman and John C. Reilly. In Cast B, Bianchini plays the optimistic inmate Jess against Martinez’s surly Sam. Their opposing reactions to their situation and the stark personality contrast between their characters make for a fascinating dynamic of female friendship in perpetual crisis. Jess and Sam oscillate between tenderness and aggravation, taking turns telling stories and butting heads over everything. At times, their wild imaginations lead to sequences of magical realism, ranging from a pretend talk show to a lightsaber battle. The constant back-and-forth is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, but watching the unlikely pair open up to each other and form a real connection is a rewarding experience.
The two inmates reimagine God as a flawed creator named Tiffany, and those Left Behind as “co-gods” with the ability to shape their own fates. The story makes a point of addressing the idea that looks can be deceiving, emphasizing the pitfalls of making assumptions (especially in a women’s prison). It’s especially poignant when Jess asks Sam to describe her childhood in vivid detail: “I didn’t want to imagine you wrong.” Jess’s constant positive energy is a powerful foil for Sam’s struggle with self-loathing and defeat. The twist at the end leaves audiences with a doubt that lingers, questioning what was real.
This inventive take on the “Locked in a Room Play” archetype is aptly described on New Play Exchange as “Waiting for Godot meets Orange is the New Black meets The Book of Revelations.” A funny and thought-provoking reflection on what it means to be a good person, Sinner’s Laundry suggests that maybe our salvation comes from friendship and self-forgiveness — and that maybe the pain it takes to get there is worth it if you find each other in the end.
Wolf & Snake Collective and Season 10 Stage, Atwater Village Theatre, 3265 Casitas Ave., Atwater. Thurs.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., June 22 and Sat., June 28, 5 pm; thru June 25. wolfandsnake.com Runtime: 75 minutes
