The stated mission for Page 73 is to develop and produce new work by early career playwrights who have yet to be produced and recognized in New York City. I decided to go see Today is My Birthday since one of the actresses, Nadine Malouf, performed Oh My Sweet Land in our kitchen this past September. I was rewarded with a high quality production and an interesting conceit.
Emily (Jennifer Ikeda) has returned home to Hawaii from her stint trying journalism in New York City. (Hana Hou! Bruddah Chris!) She is not necessarily happy to be home; her big dreams thwarted. Why is she home? Mom is crazy, Dad is a nerd. NYC best friend Halima has issues with her kids and husband. A hometown theater friend gets her to try a gig as a call in radio guest. There’s an ex-lover. While none of this may sound particularly special, the structure of the play with all of the characters talking (but not face to face) adds a dimension of detachment that is quite entertaining.
The entire play is told through a series of phone calls, voice mails and other conversations which are meant to reflect the impersonal nature of today’s millennials. The entire theater space has been converted into a recording studio with a wall of glass rooms above the so-so tropical furniture setting. The sound man is clearly visible in one corner and his contributions are a critical piece of this play. The direction by Kip Fagan is very impressive. All of the many scenes and multiple character changes are clear and cleverly presented.
When Today is My Birthday is funny, the play shines most brightly. The Z100ish radio show with DJ Loki (Jonathan Brooks) and DJ Solange (Malouf) is spot on hilarious, both loud and ridiculous. When Emily calls her mother (Emily Kuroda) and father (Ron Domingo), they are fighting but you cannot intentionally make out the words in the background. Every actor surrounding our central character plays between three and six roles. The cast displayed very strong acting chops.
If there are any quibbles here, well let’s get them out in the open. The title, Today is My Birthday, makes little sense. Our central gal, Emily, is nowhere near as interesting as any of the characters that surround her. Perhaps that’s an intentional self-absorbed millennial trait? She’s not really likable but to me that is ok. But this off-off Broadway production surprises and delights so often that quibbles become insignificant. Although Today is My Birthday is a little overlong, it’s very enjoyable if a tad dated. These millennials would text not simply call and leave messages. Quibbles from a non-millennial, sorry.