Theater Review: Plus One

Artwork by Maria Oglesby
(for review cited below)

A mom’s review of her son’s work

By Cynthia Barnett

What does a mom feel when she watches the premier performance of her son’s play? Curiosity, nervousness, excitement, pride? Maybe all of the above. But when it was over on Monday, September 10, at Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre in Los Angeles, I sat in my seat in amazement. Or rather, I joined the many in the intimate little theatre who rose in standing ovation for the two actors of Plus One, which was written and directed and acted in by my son.
    Amazement had nothing to do with surprise that it was so good. I always knew that my son, Micah Cover, was a talented actor and writer. But I was amazed that his work expressed so much of what I’d always known about him: his charm, wit, endearing ways; his self-deprecating humor; his wry and tender understanding of the human condition.

Actors Diana Cabuto & Micah Cover
(Cabuto also collaborated on the writing
Photo by Brandon Slezak for review cited below)

    To be sure, Plus One is not a jolly feel-good story. Based on some true experiences, it depicts the journey of a would-be suicide and his therapist to reach – together – a better sense of the worth of this man and his inherent right to be confident in his worth. Even so, there is genuine humor, frequently and appropriately invoked. Since the Patient is a stand-up comic, there are corny jokes, shticks complete with Irish accents, and random, mismatched Spanish phrases which Patient spews out to impress his Doctor. As well, Patient and Doctor occasionally switch roles as Patient begins to psychoanalyze Doctor to Doctor’s obvious frustration – also funny.
    Spoiler alert: In the end there is a sweet sense that Patient can ditch the crutch of his Imaginary Friend (also a mute presence on stage) and stand on his own. With new assurance, hope and resolve, he exits.
    Plus One has been a landmark experience for me. I saw my son in a new light. Or, perhaps more accurately, I saw him as he has always been, and that was even better.

Plus One has one more performance, on Monday night, September 24, at 8:30 p.m. See Haunting.net’s review by Cristen Brinkerhoff for more information.

Copyright © 2018 by Cynthia Barnett