Caroline Aaron (Photo by Cooper Bates)
Reviewed by Molly McLean
Odyssey Theatre Ensemble in partnership with Parkinson’s Community Los Angeles
Through November 15
Directed by Jane E. Unger, The Best Medicine is a new play by Robin Gerber about the transformation of a career-driven woman into a caregiver. It’s a solo show based on the playwright’s experience.
Rachel (Caroline Aaron) is a successful lawyer and writer married to her third husband, Tony. They love each other, but their relationship begins to be tested when he develops Parkinson’s, a neurological disease that limits his mobility and independence. As his disease progresses, Rachel is forced to give up some of her privileges and assumptions.
Aaron is a performer with a powerful speaking voice that radiates confidence. She has an easy rapport with the audience, with her delivery falling somewhere between that of a standup comic and a close friend. Some of the most delightful moments are when Aaron interacts with the audience and riffs off their reactions.
The tone and pace of the play is even throughout: a sweet, humorous take on loving someone deeply. It is, in fact, perhaps too even — every scene feels like the one before. It doesn’t dwell on the suffering from the disease, but then it doesn’t want to. The entire show is about transforming pain into humor: Rachel starts performing standup comedy when she starts being a caregiver.
The set at times is suggestive of a theater, a ship, and a circus for reasons that aren’t entirely clear. But Unger has Aaron use small ramps on the stage as she tells her stories, which gives her tales visual interest and something for her to play off of.
Not that she needs it. The show succeeds because of Aaron’s warm manner as she relays this heartfelt life-affirming story.
Odyssey Theater Ensemble, 2055 South Sepulveda Blvd., West LA.; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 2 pm; thru Nov. 15. www.odysseytheatre.com. Runtime: 70 minutes.
