REVIEW: The Naked Woman has something to say at Theater 154

A piece with strong elements holds your attention and leaves you wondering

Molly Serenduke

On the surface, Americans care about their neighbor, but in truth and in practice, is this simply a way for the decadent West to tell themselves that they're moral and ethical? This is one of the central questions posed in Allie Avital and Alia Azamat Ashenazi's The Naked Woman. The play revolves around a Soviet immigrant family struggling with a generational divide materializing as a battle of ideas and a battle of how to live.

At the center of the family is Dasha, a 35 year old daughter and might-be architect, played very nicely by MaryKate Glenn. Misha, Dasha's father, is having Chekhovian financial issues. He supports everyone, and this weight causes increasing tension throughout.

As the title suggests, a key propulsion forward of the piece is rooted in mystery surrounding a naked woman running through the woods.

There's a lot done in this piece to hold your attention. Pili Weeber's set design excels. It's dynamic both as the woods and as the home, and the efficient doubling of set pieces provides additional effective methods of storytelling. Some of the intrigue of the play comes from infidelity, the question of whether Dasha will marry, and whether Misha can hold the family together, but there's considerable interest created by the naked woman.

The questions surrounding the naked woman allow the family to question Misha's involvement, positively moving the story along, but the looming questions related to this aspect are anticlimactic. The continued mystery here does make a statement, but the non-answers leave us wondering and wanting.

The piece isn't exactly sure of its own tone. The blending of comedy and drama sometimes clash and the piece can sometimes feel a little absurd when its intention is to feel naturalistic.

Not without its faults, The Naked Woman is engaging, thought-provoking and relevant. It moves at a good pace. While there are elements that at times take you out, there's a lot working here to keep you invested. This is a sincere collaboration of talented and passionate artists. It's a piece that keeps you engaged.

A worthwhile night at the theater.