Photo by Sefanja Galon

Kenneth (Malik Archibald) gets overly dramatic with his sister, Jules (Elizabeth Chavez) in Main Street Players’ fine world premiere professional production of A New Newer Normal. 

By AARON KRAUSE

More than once, a character proposes a toast in John Mabey’s sweet, smart, funny, and invigorating new play, A New Newer Normal.  Well, let us present our own toast to Mabey’s comic delight of a play and its mostly fine world premiere professional production. It runs through March 9 in Main Street Players’ (MSP) intimate playing space in Miami Lakes.

MSP’s production, under artistic director Angie Esposito’s sensitive and high-energy direction, stars Keith J. Suranna, Maya Ibars, Elizabeth Chavez, Malik Archibald, Freddy Valle, and Emalie Belokon.

MSP’s effort also includes good work by designers Jacob Brown (scenic design), Tabita Verdesa (costumes), Ricky J. Martinez (lighting), and Ina Ruiz (sound).

For the drink that we will use for our toast, we will combine a dash of Neil Simon, a drop of Cole Porter, a helping of Noel Coward, and mix well. After all, the play’s irresistible one-liners and wit might suggest the work of Simon and Coward. In addition, the piece’s comic incidents aboard a cruise ship may call to mind Porter’s classic 1930s musical comedy, Anything Goes. However, A New Newer Normal takes place in the present, or more specifically, sometimes after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mabey has set the first act of this roughly one-hour, 40-minute play (including intermission) in a cozy home in an unnamed city. In this space, 40-year unhappy couple Denny and Ruth live with Ruth’s spirited mother, Beverly.

The trio are trying to move on with their lives following the COVID-19 pandemic and are holding a garage sale to raise money for a cruise. However, the couple are emotionally apart. Specifically, Ruth seeks adventure, while Denny prefers to remain at home. That is where he has been sheltering throughout quarantine. In fact, the couple do not even sleep together.

Denny: Our sleeping arrangements are for your benefit.

Ruth: Then why don’t I feel benefitted?

Denny: We’ve been married four decades and my snoring has kept you awake for nearly two of them. At least separate rooms means you’re sleeping better.

The characters also include the couple’s daughter, Jules. This homeless young woman has dropped out of college and gotten arrested along with her new boyfriend, Alfie. He is a seemingly aimless young man whom Jules met in an abandoned building. Sometime after they met, authorities arrested the pair for allegedly shoplifting. Shortly after the play begins, Jules calls to request that her folks bail her and her boyfriend out of jail. After they do, Jules brings Alfie to her parents’ and grandmother’s home to live at least temporarily. Jules’ hyper-hygienic recluse of a brother, Kenneth, completes this dysfunctional but ultimately lovable clan.

Kenneth has obsessively tried to remain vigilant about his health during the pandemic and following it. For instance, he carries either mace or sanitizer with him and at least once threatens to use the liquid as a weapon if someone approaches him. A non-traditional love triangle develops when Kenneth falls for Alfie. And when Ruth and her mother leave the home to experience a fresh start aboard a cruise ship, reuniting Ruth and Denny may fall to their children.

A farcical situation develops aboard the cruise ship for the second act as Alfie, Kenneth, Jules, and Denny, seemingly unbeknownst to Ruth and Beverly, tag along on the same cruise ship, possibly to reunite Ruth and Denny.

A New Newer Normal asks what happens after we return to “normal” following a world-disrupting catastrophe such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Surely, such an upsetting occurrence can make us stop and reconsider our lives, how we live them, and what we value most. Mabey’s play also reminds us that it is never too late for a fresh start in life. Certainly, the piece reassures and refreshes us like a long, deep-tissue massage. The play is also endearingly sweet and features sincere sentiment. You would have to be a true cynic or grouch not to feel moved by Mabey’s play. Happy tears may form in your eyes during the final scenes. Bring tissues.

The play also puts our minds to work. For instance, the piece makes us think about language and the words we use every day to communicate. Are the words we are choosing up to date, or have they gone out of style or are no longer “in vogue”? What about items lying around our house? Are they worth keeping or is it best to discard them? Finally, the playwright packs plenty of pop cultural references in his piece to satisfy lovers of culture.

In A New Newer Normal, Mabey demonstrates a wry sense of humor and an impressively keen ear for how families communicate with each other. More specifically, the playwright deftly captures the irritation members of families may feel toward each other. But as Mabey depicts it, an underlying feeling of genuine love and loyalty rests beneath that annoyance.

The piece, which won MSP’s new play competition in 2023, includes plenty of memorable lines. Indeed, Mabey’s writing is drily funny, lively, tight, vivid, and wise.

“Failure doesn’t always mean it’s the end,” Beverly says. “Sometimes, it’s a sign that you’re finally ready to grow.”

At another point, someone asks Beverly whether Ruth’s spa session aboard the ship is over.

“Hope so; she’s been waxed and polished more than this ship,” the octogenarian responds.

During another scene, at a family pizza party, Beverly requests “spicy pepperoni my way, please.” How could you not adore this senior citizen with a zest for life and living?

Belokon gives a valiant effort as Beverly, injecting her with a lively demeanor and making her consistently likable. However, this obviously young performer is not convincing as a senior citizen. The performer simply sounds too young to believably suggest an octogenarian. In addition, the grey wig atop her head and white makeup or cream gracing her face at times does little to transform Belokon. Also, she makes no effort to alter her voice, movement, or posture to suggest somebody up in age. Of course, you could argue that Beverly should sound young and vibrant. But at some point, the ability for an audience to suspend disbelief reaches a limit.

As Beverly’s daughter, Ruth, Ibars is believable as a woman who is trying to remain positive, but has grown annoyed at her husband. Also, you sense that Ibars’ Ruth needs a break from her everyday routine. Overall, Ruth’s character arc takes her from a woman looking for a break to someone reinvigorated by her “second act” of life. And Ibars is believable in that transformation.

As Denny, Suranna is believably uptight and exasperated. And, as the performer portrays him, you sense his vulnerability during one scene aboard the ship. We find ourselves rooting for Ruth and Denny to reunite.

With wide dark eyes, and a dramatic air, Archibald nails Kenneth’s sneakiness and wariness without overacting. And the character’s transformation from a recluse to a more public person happens seamlessly.

Valle lends Alfie an endearing quirkiness, playfulness, and an air of mystery, especially when Valle’s eyes narrow in a manner suggesting that he is up to something.

And Jules’ character arc from a homeless young woman needing direction to a more confident social activist plays out believably through Chavez’s sincere performance.

Brown’s scenic design in the first act depicting Denny, Ruth, and Beverly’s home includes realistic details. With its brown floor, bluish chair and light-colored couch, it is easy to feel at home in this environment. Wisely, Brown’s scenic design includes enough open boxes and signs to suggest a garage sale. Brown’s design of the ship in the second act could include more detail placing us in the interior of the vessel. Fortunately, Ruiz’s strong sound design includes a noise that sounds like a ship’s horn.

Verdesa’s character-appropriate costume design and Martinez’s realistic lighting also contribute to  MSP’s production.

While Esposito’s direction is generally strong, I question the need for an intermission. The running time is short as it is, and audiences could probably sit through the show without needing a break. Besides, intermissions can interrupt the flow of a production.

A New Newer Normal is not a flawless play. For example, the playwright introduces plot developments such as Jules’ and Alfie’s arrest for allegedly shoplifting, and then forgets about such incidents. We never learn about when their court hearing is, for instance. Also, parts of the play are repetitive. More than once, two characters sneak into a room without either of them being aware of each other, and then startle each other. We might laugh the first time, but it can get old after a while.

Another shortcoming is that during a flashback, we learn that Beverly and her late husband, Mark (Valle) would not be able to have children. We never learn why, though. It becomes even more of a mystery when we consider the fact that the couple had Ruth.

“There’s too much beauty in the imperfection,” Beverly says during the play.

So, too, is there beauty in A New Newer Normal and MSP’s well-done production, despite shortcomings.  MSP, a former community theater, has made strides since turning professional. The proof is in their productions’ overall quality, and this solid staging of A New Newer Normal is no different.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: MSP’s world premiere production of A New Newer Normal, by John Mabey

WHEN: Through March 9. Performances are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, as well as 2 p.m. Sunday. In addition, MSP is holding its annual fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 9. The event will take place at The Garrison Taproom, 6709 Main St. in Miami Lakes. It will include complimentary food and drinks. Individual tickets for the fundraiser are $80, and $200 for a group of four.

WHERE: Main Street Players’ intimate playing space at 6812 Main St. in Miami Lakes.

TICKETS: $30 for general admission, and $25 for seniors, students, and military. Call (305) 558-3737 or go to www.mainstreetplayers.com.

Photo by Sefanja Galon

Ruth (Maya Ibars), Beverly (Emalie Belokon), and Denny (Keith J. Suranna) chat while eating pizza during a scene from MSP’s world premiere production of A New Newer Normal.