As kids, we all had ideas of what we wanted to be when we grew up. Some people stuck to their dreams with determination, and some changed their minds into adulthood. “Alien Girls” by Amy Berryman looks at life goals, friendship and the many facets of being a modern woman. The show is funny, well-written, and incredibly thought-provoking, all of which lead to an excellent production.
Tiffany (Brittany Bradford) and Carolyn (Emma Ramos) meet as college freshmen roommates and instantly bond. The two discover their shared love of poetry and prose, vowing to both become famous writers. Ten or so years later, each woman faces a big life change: Carolyn’s recent essay will be published in the New Yorker, and Tiffany is newly pregnant. While happy for each other, both women struggle with the news they’ve just received. Tiffany feels jealous of her friend’s career success, while Carolyn struggles to understand why her friend would want to give up on her professional dreams to become a mom. What follows is a sad but ultimately uplifting story of relationships and how we all must adapt to change.
Bradford and Ramos have excellent chemistry as the two best friends. The play follows a nonlinear storyline, with quick costume changes highlighting the college freshmen days and the more established women. Both actors do a great job of showing their unique characters in these two different ages. Bradford, as Tiffany, starts out naive and a little shy, only to turn into someone wiser and much more jaded. Her scenes of anger are powerful and really lend to the gravity of the situation. Ramos’ performance as Carolyn leads with most of the energy and humor, only to evolve into something more melancholy. Karina Curet helps round out the show by playing a number of different supporting roles, stealing every single scene she’s in. All three actors bring their unique talents to the table brilliantly.
Toward the end of the show, puppetry and symbolism are used pretty heavily, and it feels like there is a slight disconnect from the rest of the play. The character drama between these two friends is so engaging, only for the second half of the story to be interrupted by a puppet show. Helen Q. Huang’s puppet design is great, with the pieces being used effectively by the actors. However, the storytelling device, as written, just doesn’t lend itself well to the script.
Music plays a huge role in the show, and Sinan Refik Zafar’s sound design works wonderfully in dance club scenes and for establishing the time periods. Jason Sherwood’s set design is both retro and futuristic, again working with the two different time periods while also playing into the science fiction theme that runs throughout the story. Rui Rita provided great lighting that played wonderfully with the set and sound, and Helen Q. Huang’s costuming suited all characters perfectly.
The questions of choosing your childhood passions, deciding on motherhood, and holding onto fractured relationships are explored deeply and thoughtfully. “Alien Girls” is a play by women and for women, but it is so well-written that any audience member can enjoy it.
“Alien Girls” plays at The Old Globe theatre until May 10.
(Photo credit: Rich Soublet II)
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