Some problems are just "Beyond Therapy"

Last weekend Student Theatre at Bellarmine (ST@B) presented “Beyond Therapy,” a play by Christopher Durang.

The Wyatt Blackbox Theatre was transformed, always making for a unique experience. The stage and the seats were arranged very intimately, with only the capacity for about 30 to 40 people and the theatre was almost full Saturday night.

I love the Blackbox Theatre and the way it is arranged differently each time I see a production there. It adds character to the shows that ST@B puts on there.

Set in New York City in 1982, “Beyond Therapy” focuses around the lives of Prudence, a young professional searching for the perfect man, and Bruce, who is somewhat confused about who he is looking for, but someone to love, nevertheless. The two meet by answering personal ads in the newspaper.

Played by Vanessa Ferguson and Jacob Banser, the play follows Prudence and Bruce as they are counseled by their respective therapists, Dr. Stuart Framingham and Charlotte Wallace.

These two characters have their own problems. Dr. Framingham, played by Bellarmine professor of Spanish Nelson López, constantly tries to show off his “macho” side with Prudence, with whom we find he has had a brief affair. Lopez’s enthusiastic portrayal of the obnoxious Dr. Framingham won a few laughs from the audience.

But Charlotte Wallace, the zany, scatterbrained therapist to Bruce steals the show. Emily Ruppel captures the character so well, that by the end of the show I found myself almost trying to make sense of her of-the-wall ramblings that end up right back where they began.

Throw in Bruce’s live-in boyfriend Bob (Ted Lesley) and this group runs into some real problems, all making for an amusing series of events.

Bob, though one of the minor characters, was one of my favorites. With his threats of suicide and his constant neediness, he reminded me a little of Steve Carell's character in "Little Miss Sunshine." Lesley's portrayal of this hilarious but at the same time tragic character, added that extra something to the mix.

“Beyond Therapy” will be showing again, Thursday, March 29 through Sunday, April 1.

This quirky and hilarious show is a great way to escape for two hours. You just might find your own love life is not quite as confusing as it could be.