By David Walters
Baby Jessica’s Well-Made Play! is individual personal theater allowing you, the sole audience member, the opportunity to make direct human connections. Allowing you the opportunity to talk about various things in your life, fear, miracles, darkness, blessings, and empathy. This is an involved personal experience, not a show in the usual sense.
The theme is the experience of Baby Jessica trapped in an abandoned water well in 1987 for 58 hours and takes place while you are at your home over your phone in two parts. Part 1 (acts 1, 2, and 3) on one night (about 2.5-3 hours), and Part 2 (act 4) the next night (about 90 minutes) (though they do have Sunday afternoon availability). A secret fifth act will happen once 58 people have participated in the experience (I’m holding out for that and will update this once it’s happened). You will be having one-on-one conversations with two strangers the first night, and then one other the second night. If this is piquing your interest, don’t read the rest of this review and get a ticket now before they’re all gone HERE.
For those who need more convincing, this is all about you and you alone. That opportunity doesn’t happen very often. I found myself relating and sharing things (since there was no judgment here) that I normally wouldn’t have with a stranger on the street or subway. A safe place is constructed and everyone is a faceless participant. You will remember this exchange for years to come.
Baby Jessica’s Well-Made Play was written by Philip Santos Schaffer, directed by Isabel Quinzaños Alonso, and performed by Mary Round.
The creative team for Baby Jessica’s Well-Made Play includes Anna Woodruff (dramaturge), Jorge Olivo (sound design & composition), Matt Engle (Production Stage Manager), and Stefanie Harris (producing consultant).
Performances of Baby Jessica’s Well-Made Play are currently scheduled to continue through April 27, 2023. The performance schedule is Sunday through Thursday at 7 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, with a commitment to attend consecutive Part 1 and Part 2 performances. Running time varies. Single tickets, starting at $30, provide access to both performances and can be purchased at www.pipelinetheatre.org.
The play takes place in two parts.
Part 1 (Acts I, II, and III) will run between 2.5 and 3 hours.
Part 2 (Act IV) will last approximately 90 minutes.
A secret fifth act will take place once 58 people have seen Baby Jessica’s Well-Made Play.
This show takes place over the phone and there are a couple of technical elements you will need to have available:
A fully charged smartphone with reliable service (either WiFi or cellular)
A pair of headphones, preferably with a built-in microphone.
Relative privacy. The play will be highly interactive.
The structure of the show will ask you to engage in conversations with strangers. For your safety, and for the safety of all audience members and performers, there will be an expectation of respectful discourse. Hate speech of any kind, including but not limited to racist, sexist, homophobic, and transphobic remarks, will not be tolerated. A failure to comply with these expectations will result in the immediate termination of your performance and refunds will not be issued.
Presented by Pipeline Theatre Company
Written by Philip Santos Schaffer
Directed by
Performed by Mary Round
Dramaturgy by Anna Woodruff
Sound Design & Composition: Jorge Olivo
Stage Manager: Matt Engle
Producing Consultant: Stefanie Harris
Interested in tickets? Please read the FAQ!
February 1 – March 30, 2023
Your Phone/Zoom, Over 2 nights
From anywhere in the USA
Pipeline on Instagram
As always, this is just one person’s opinion in a world filled with them.
