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Regional Reviews: Phoenix Tiny Beautiful Things Also see Gil's reviews of Babalon, Sutton Foster in Concert and Done to Death
The play follows an anonymous online advice columnist, Sugar, who responds to letters from people seeking guidance on love, grief, regret and healing. As Sugar delves into the extremely personal questions from strangers, she reflects on her own past experiences, weaving her own struggles and triumphs into her responses. Strayed was a struggling writer when she was invited to take on the unpaid, anonymous role of an advice columnist for an online magazine. Her book compiles the questions and responses from her "Dear Sugar" column which ran from 2010 to 2012. It was adapted into a mini-series in 2023; in 2016, Nia Vardalos, best-known as the writer and star of the hit film My Big Fat Greek Wedding, adapted it for the stage. Vardalos has done a good job weaving together various columns from Strayed's book into a cohesive play that gives us a clear understanding of her method of giving advice, which is deeply personal, drawing from her own life experiences. As Strayed shares intimate and painful moments, such as her mother's final word to her, "love," spoken too weakly to complete the phrase "I love you," surviving childhood abuse at the hands of her grandfather, and becoming pregnant while struggling with addiction, it makes Tiny Beautiful Things into a moving memoir. But what makes Vardalos' structure of Strayed's storytelling so powerful isn't just the raw honesty in her recollections. It is how Strayed seamlessly applies her personal stories to the dilemmas of advice-seekers, often in ways that seem unrelated at first but ultimately reveal strong connections. There is one caveat: with a steady stream of questions that are asked, there are a few times when Strayed's personal stories go on a bit too long or are so involved that you forget what the original question of advice was that she was answering. Fortunately, there are only a couple of those instances and, under Elena Conti's sharp and well-paced direction, the cast excels in ensuring that each scene flows naturally, keeping the audience engaged. The ensemble cast features four talented actresses who bring vulnerability and authenticity to their roles. Jodie L. Weiss as Sugar is particularly outstanding, delivering a profound performance that balances warmth, wit, and emotional nuance. The three other actresses, Debra K. Stevens, Shelly R. Trujillo, and Jillian Walker, seamlessly shift among multiple roles, embodying the letter writers who seek advice with sincerity and depth, making their stories feel very real. Each actress gets several moments to shine, with Trujillo's letter concerning how her character has been unable to come to terms with her recent miscarriage and Walker's query about how to deal with parents who at first weren't able to accept that her character is trans, quite moving. But it's the performance of Stevens as a man, "Living Dead Dad," who hasn't been able to get past his 22-year-old son's tragic death that is the most inspiring. Stevens and Weiss have acted together before and the personal connection the two actresses have makes the strong bond their characters share one that emphasizes the power of words and human connection in its most raw and motivating form. That scene and how moving it is will most likely be one everyone in the audience will remember for a very long time. Though Tiny Beautiful Things can be heavy at times, it is ultimately a rewarding and cathartic experience. The Bridge Initiative's production is beautifully acted and heartfelt and reminds us of the power of empathy and the healing potential of shared experiences. With its mix of heartbreak, humor and wisdom, Tiny Beautiful Things is a play with refreshingly honest advice and with many moments that resonate in a way that linger long after the play is over. Tiny Beautiful Things, a presentation of The Bridge Initiative, runs through February 7, 2025, at Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe AZ. For tickets and information, please visit purchase.tempecenterforthearts.com/Events or call 480-350-2822. Director: Elena Conti Cast: |
