Deception. Manipulation. Fear. Contempt. Envy. Anguish. These are some of the elements that make up Paul Downs Colaizzo’s brilliant new play “Really Really” at Signature Theatre. It’s a work that looks closely at the lives of the “Me Generation,” providing shock, awe and laughter, no matter what your age.
“Really Really” is set in an elite college a day after a major party at the apartment of a popular student, Davis (Jake Odmark), who claims in a hungover stupor that the night before is a blank. His roommate, Cooper (Evan Casey), remembers Davis being alone in his room with one of the girls at the party, Leigh (Bethany Anne Lind), who just happens to be the girlfriend of their good friend Jimmy (Danny Gavigan).
Later, when Leigh charges that Davis raped her, the typical college banter about midterms crashes to a halt and every character is examined to see if he or she is telling the truth. But that’s not easy, as most of the characters in “Really Really” have ulterior motives. They’re driven by inherited values, hidden resentments and skewed views of themselves or the society into which they were born. They lie not only to each other, but also to themselves. Even the audience can’t tell until the end what is the truth and what is a lie.
| Onstage |
| ‘Really, Really’ |
| Where: Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington |
| When: Through March 25 |
| Info: $56 to $80; 703-573-7328; signature-theatre.org |
Lind excels as Leigh, fragile in appearance but in fact hard as nails. Odmark is powerful as Davis, who seems to have it all in the first scene of the play. Gavigan makes credible the role of the snobbish Jimmy. Casey provides much of the comic relief in “Really Really,” as a lackadaisical student meandering through college. Leigh’s ditzy sister Haley (Kim Rosen) provides even more comedy when she descends on Leigh, ostensibly to help, in fact to make trouble.
Paul James is excellent as the serious student who won’t get involved with the messy lives of his friends because he won’t let anything stand in the way of his long dreamed-about success. Haley’s roommate Grace is portrayed with depth and sly humor by Lauren Culpepper, who is outstanding as the practical, idealistic young woman, a future leader of America.
Under Matthew Gardiner’s intelligent direction, “Really Really” moves quickly and determinedly. Gardiner understands the importance of silence and uses it to excellent effect, allowing “Really Really” to be what Colaizzo intended: the reflection of a manipulative, narcissistic generation, in which it’s every man or woman for himself or herself.
