Review: The Long Now at Blue Theatre [Theatre]

Trish’s relationship with Time is more than a little codependent, and though Time urges her to move forward in her life, it's when Tish tries to heed this advice that Time flies—off the handle. Should Tish stick with living in the past after all? Only Time can tell, and her attitude changes, naturally, from minute to minute.

Burns has created what feels to be a bit of a triptych here—three plays in one: there’s Tish’s past, where she is forever begging Time to take her, filled with memories of her childhood crush, Larry (played by Mason Stewart). There’s her annoying present—days spent in the office with her office mate, Sherrie (Anne Hulsman), and their boss, Tom (D.H. Thompson). And there's the love affair, also in the present, that blooms when the recently divorced adult Larry returns to town.

Grounds, a great actor, is convincing as a confused adult forever reaching back to childhood for glimmers of joy while terrified of the real truths hidden there, and eventually, despite her best efforts, unable to sort through the real truths of her present. Hulsman turns in an especially delightful performance as Tish’s almost-always effervescent co-worker-cum-cheerleader/confidante. Thompson nails the bumbling boss role. And Stewart, especially when he and Grounds share the quintessential T.M.I. first date, brings out his character’s complexity with the confession he can’t keep from blurting out.

The play features original music from Grammy-nominated composer/musician Burton C. Bell and local songwriter/actor T. Lynn Mikeska (also the voice of Time). Jesse Kingsley created the beautiful shadow puppets, large and small, that represent time. (Puppeteering done by Parker Dority and Cami Yankwitt.) Connor Hopkins worked with Kingsley to design a set that incorporates shadowed backdrops allowing Time to pass effortlessly across the stage.

The Long Now runs through June 13th at the Blue Theater.