Brooklyn Laundry
Northlight Theatre brings this emotionally charged, dramatic comedy story about family responsibilities, love, and the dilemma you face when choosing between selfishness and selflessness. The indescribable heart-breaking question that forces us to answer is how much should we give to those dying over living our own lives? How much are we willing to give and grieve for those we love instead of focusing on ourselves? Inspired by events where playwright John Patrick Shanley's laundry got lost at a laundrette, Brooklyn Laundry is a heart-wrenching play that deals with the emotional turmoil of losing a loved one. In this narrative story, Shanley pours his heart out and paints a vivid picture of his true feelings towards the magnificent city of New York and the resilient people who work tirelessly each day to keep it going. There are a lot of similarities between Shanley's film Moonstruck and Doubt; Brooklyn Laundry deals with balancing love versus family. Through his words, he conveys his deep admiration for an interdimensional family drama with vibrant energy, wit, and the ability to inspire and motivate dialogue many would choose to avoid. Fran, the youngest of three sisters, has no kids and is not in a committed relationship; is she selfish for thinking of herself, while her sister, Trish, is dying and needs her to continue to be selfless? Is Owen, who has trust issues, emotionally damaged from his previous relationship? And when things reach a traumatic climax, where do they both draw the line?
When I entered the theater, I was blown away by seeing the fully clothed laundry facility with hundreds of dry cleaning items. I wondered if Northlight would have a similar rotating stage seen at other productions, as seeing the overwhelming amount of clothing on stage was a bit distracting. The main characters, Owen and Fran, meet at a Brooklyn laundry owned by Owen. She is leaving to visit her ailing sister and needs her laundry cleaned. She unexpectedly meets Owen, who is there because his employee has left after winning the lottery. They share awkward pleasantries; Owen takes a bold step and asks Fran out on a dinner date. Shocked by his request, Fran initially replies no, but after questioning why he would want to go on a date with her, Fran says yes, and they make plans to meet after she returns from visiting her sister. Despite the initial awkwardness, there was a spark between them that neither could deny, and they both felt excited as they looked forward to their upcoming date. After spending most of her adult life caring for her sister, Trish, Fran is excited about finally having time for herself. However, her happiness is short-lived when her other sister, Susie, reveals that she has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and only has a few months to live. Now, Fran must step up and take care of Susie's two children in addition to Trish's son, all while dealing with the emotional toll of her sister's terminal illness. Owen is also looking for a bit of happiness after suffering from back problems from being hit by a car and has suffered from impotence issues, causing his wife to leave him. When he learns about Fran's sister's terminal illness and that she has chosen to care for their children, Owen is upset that she didn't consult with him. Brooklyn Laundry is a conflicting and stirring play. It provides a rollercoaster of emotions for anyone dealing with life-altering decisions, but Shanley's play hits all the marks we face when life forces us to make difficult choices.
Cassidy Slaughter-Mason and Mark Montgomery provide a masterful performance as Fran and Owen. Their on-stage chemistry was magical, allowing you to resonate with their everyday joy and pains. The witty humor of them getting high off edible magic chocolate mushrooms and the tear-jerking moment when they decided to try love over fear despite life's challenges. Marika Mashburn and Sandra Delgado's performances will chill your souls as they battle with the hopelessness of their lives and reflect on their choices. With these incredible performances, you'll find yourself laughing out loud one moment and wiping away tears the next. But one thing is for sure: you will never forget this play. Shanley perfectly ends this play, allowing the audience to write the ending of how life continues through formidable circumstances.
Artistic Director BJ Jones and the Executive Director should receive high praise for bringing another exceptional production, Shanley's Brooklyn Laundry, to Northlight Theatre. It's a Tissue-Box, Must-See production.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Northlight Theatre
Brooklyn Laundry
By John Patrick Shanley
Directed by BJ Jones
April 11 – May 12, 2024
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