SLAC’s SUNNY IN THE DARK Is Out of This World

SALT LAKE CITY — Elaine Jarvik’s new play Sunny in the Dark opened with a big bang of its own on the Salt Lake Acting Company (SLAC) stage on February 4th. Showcasing phenomenal wit and riveting wordplay Sunny in the Dark proves itself to be a star in the ever expanding playwriting universe. This play was supported by SLAC’s New Play Sounding Series (NPSS), a program that creates space for emerging and established playwrights to explore new ideas and share them with the community.

Elaine’s original play was inspired by questions about belief, the cosmos, and the origin of everything. It revolves around Sunny, a 15-year-old girl who yearns to understand her own creation story. Questions about her unknown biological father spiral into questions about whether or not she can know herself without first knowing where she came from. Her mother, Elise, is busy running for the local school board and facing questions of her own about what it means to believe in a higher power.

The play brings up numerous controversial questions regarding subjects such as book banning, the importance of religion, and parenting techniques, providing arguments both for and against differing viewpoints. No definitive answers are given, nor is any way of thinking promoted as being superior. The audience is left to answer these questions themselves throughout the play, and hopefully for a while after. Given the heavy nature of some of the show’s themes and content only mature audience members are advised to attend.

The clever wordplay and crisp arguments are truly the highlight of Sunny in the Dark. Despite the heavier themes, there was an abundance of moments where a particularly well thought out turn of phrase had the audience laughing out loud. The conversations all felt organic, and the dialogue was eloquent and flowed nicely. The modern setting coupled with discussions about more recent issues makes this play feel current to today’s audience.

Director Marion Markham did a wonderful job developing the blocking and movement. All the characters seemed to be moving just enough to keep the scenes lively without being chaotic. In particular, CoCo May Berwald (Sunny) utilized her entire body to create the portrayal of an angsty teenager with too much energy. The stage action was also impressive. The actors blocking and interweaving added to each scene in a way that wasn’t distracting, but rather added to the realism of the show.

The set design by Gage Williams seems simplistic and graceful at first, providing just enough dressing to feel distinct while also transitioning between various locations believably. Then, a full body swing covered with planets and stars emerges with a decked out astrophysicist (played by Matthew Ivan Bennett) riding on top. Ms. Frizzle and her magic school bus couldn’t hope to compete with the dapper gentleman astrophysicist in a green velvet dinner jacket with light up stars, numerous buttons, and a bow tie holding it all together. Hats off to costume designer Spencer Potter for bringing this otherworldly figure to life through his wardrobe.

Berwald was the star of the show, not only playing the protagonist but also stood out as a skilled actor. Her expressive face and well delivered lines easily made her stand out. She took long monologues and difficult strings of dialogue in stride, occasionally rushing her speech when the scene demanded it but never faltering. Paul Mulder, who played Sunny’s step-dad, did a great job of balancing the enthusiastic teenager energy of CoCo May with his own calm, dependable dad persona. The family bond between these two felt genuine, and their ability to play off each other created scenes that were impossible to look away from.

The only complaint I could find with the production was the pacing of the scenes. There were numerous times when the dialogue in a scene would end and instantly cut to black to transition to another scene. I can appreciate the quick transitions, but there were moments where the actors could have let a scene marinate for just a few more moments before cutting to the next. The addition of a little breathing room would have helped add to the depth of what the actors were saying and given the audience time to ponder the many questions presented.

Sunny is a comical play that asks questions about our world today that I’m sure many of us have. Discussions about science, religion, and love for one another come together to create a thought provoking experience. The show excels as a piece talking to patrons of SLAC regarding relevant issues with nuance and insight. Those who attend with an open mind are sure to enjoy the heart wrenching yet hilarious story of  Sunny in the Dark.