Diversionary Theatre cordially invites you to a dinner party. A mother, son and son-in-law will regale you with stories of childhood, adolescence, young adulthood and every moment in between.
That’s what “We Are Continuous” feels like–a seat at a familial dinner party. Written by Harrison David Rivers and directed by Kian Kline-Chilton, the play breaks the fourth wall and includes the audience in the characters’ retelling of life events, both big and small.
Ora (Marti Gobel) tells you about her son Simon (Elliot Sagay) and how she always secretly knew he was gay. Simon tells his coming-out story, and soon, his husband, Abe (Eli Wood), tells you about their falling in love and the life they have created. This party of three is happy to reminisce on the past and remind us all what kind of joy family brings. As time progresses, we notice that Simon’s father is seemingly absent from this dinner and soon learn why.
These stories of growing up, coming out and learning to accept one another inevitably shift into life’s more difficult moments. What starts out as a casual discussion soon becomes reenactments of moments from Simon’s life, and the audience is swept up in all of it.
This is a simple three-person play, and each actor absolutely knocks it out of the park. Marti Gobel, as Ora, is a headstrong, determined mother who fights tooth and nail to protect and love her son at all costs. She delivered some of the show’s funniest moments, as well as the most gut-wrenching. Elliot Sagay’s performance as Simon is light, effervescent and casually calming until suddenly it isn’t, and you see a side of the character that breaks your heart to the point of tears. Eli Wood as Abe is absolutely lovable and adorable, with an earnest dorkiness that makes you see why Simon fell for him in the first place. The chemistry between Sagay and Wood is palpable, and you really feel like these two were meant for each other.
Kline-Chilton’s direction helmed this play in all the right directions at all the right moments. The story has its ups and downs of levity and seriousness, but it never feels like the two are at odds with one another. The show is a quick 80 minutes, and it plays perfectly to its length.
If you’ve ever been in a tense family discussion, you know a simple sentence can change the energy in the room. Lighting Designer Colby Freel and Sound Designer Padra Crisafulli work together to emphasize the hard-hitting moments to great dramatic effect. Heather Larsen’s simple and elegant set design fits perfectly in Diversionary’s space and serves as a good, neutral playground for the story’s symbolic changes in setting.
Diversionary Theatre’s mission is to “provide an inspiring, inclusive, and empowering space for community to celebrate and explore complex, provocative, and diverse LGBTQIA+ stories,” and they have always chosen works that do so with flying colors. “We Are Continuous” is a thoughtful story that shows what acceptance and forgiveness can bring to the table. Take a seat, and enjoy what Diversionary has to offer.
(Photo credit: Talon Reed Cooper)
To See or Not To See 
Leave a comment