THEATRE REVIEW: "The Humans" at the Falls Theatre (Wappingers Falls, NY)

      On November 18th, 2023, I saw the 2pm performance of the Stephen Karam play "The Humans" at the County Players Falls Theatre in Wappingers Falls, NY.  "The Humans" is a tragicomedy thriller.  It is also a one act play, so there is no intermission.  Another one-act play I saw in 2023 was "Grey House."  I enjoyed that play, and I enjoyed seeing "The Humans" as well.  

      This production of "The Humans" starred Brian Mathews (as Erik Blake), Ann Citron (as Deirdre Blake), Ivy Meehan (as Aimee Blake), Jessica Valente (as Brigid Blake), Claudia King (as Fiona "Momo" Blake), and Paul Herbig (as Richard Saad).  The synopsis of the play, as stated in the theatre program, is as follows:  "Breaking with tradition, Erik Blake has brought his Pennsylvania family to celebrate Thanksgiving at his daughter's apartment in lower Manhattan.  As darkness falls outside the ramshackle pre-war duplex, eerie things start to go bump in the night and the heart and horrors of the Blake clan are exposed." (County Players program for "The Humans," p. 5).

          The World Premiere Production of "The Humans" was presented, and performed, from November 14th, 2014 thru February 1st, 2015 at the American Theatre Company in Chicago, IL.  The Off-Broadway Production of "The Humans" was presented at from October 25th, 2015 thru January 3rd, 2016 (after previews began September 30th, 2015) at the Laura Pels Theatre.  The Broadway Production of "The Humans" performed from February 18th thru July 24th, 2016 at the Helen Hayes Theatre (after previews began on January 24th, 2016); then transferred to the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, where it performed from August 9th, 2016 thru January 15th, 2017.  A National Tour of "The Humans" was launched at the Eisenhower Theatre in Washington D.C on January 9th, 2018, and played its final performance on July 29th, 2018 at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, CA.  The National Tour's second stop was in Chicago, where the production performed from January 30th thru February 11th, 2018 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre.

     The acting in the County Players production of "The Humans" was phenomenal.  Prior to seeing the show, I was getting nervous that the 90 minute play would drag on and on... (I guess I still haven't forgotten the joy of seeing "Fun Home").  But I was pleasantly surprised that the tragicomedy thriller held my focus, and rapt attention, from start to finish.  I was also impressed by the set, which was designed by Stage Manager Jen Mille.  If I were a stage manager and was asked how a set ought to be designed, I would say "I dunno... with a scrim, spot light, and jazz hands?" 

     Even after not going to the theatre for four months, my passion, obsession, and favoritism for the Performing Arts remains.  I eagerly await my next theatre excursion.... which is only a few weeks away.  Not long after that, County Players will present its production of the musical "Ragtime."  I most definitely plan on seeing that show.  While I eagerly await that production, I am grateful to have finally seen a production of Stephen Karam's amazing tragicomedy thriller.