On a cold December evening, the wind whips my face as I enter the Laredo College Shoebox Theater. Greeted by the cast and crew, a balloon-making clown, caviar, and beet ginger ale mules meant to invoke the feel of a true Russian winter, audience members congregate in the lobby in preparation for the Laredo Theater Guild International’s opening performance of Neil Simon’s The Good Doctor.
Inspired by Anton Chekov’s collection of short stories, the play follows the narration of a character known as ‘The Writer,’ through his storytelling of 9 separate vignettes, meant to illustrate the writing process and storytelling development of the novel The Writer is aiming to complete.
Through humor and, often, complete absurdity, Simon explores the universality of the human condition, connecting with the audience through the relatability of character experiences in each sketch. After all, who has not gone through the woes of courtship, the pangs of missed opportunity, and the relief of inheriting 5,000 rubles?
Aside from the narrative's ability to resonate with the audience, the production’s strength lies in its cast members. Throughout the nine short plays, the versatility of each actor is put to the test as they don new costumes and personas, each unattached to any prior or upcoming plotline.
As vignettes transition, the audience is never acquainted with the same characters twice. Each actor’s ability to convincingly execute their character’s identities and motivations within the limited time frame provided for each vignette was a remarkable feat, illustrating the precise mix of talent and work ethic it takes to land a believable scene. Despite slight recognition of faces from previous acts, the transformation of each actor in the intimate cast is a breath of fresh air welcoming in new perspectives and opportunities for reaching the audience.
By the end of the production, it’s clear that LTGI has succeeded, once again, in creating an engaging and compelling theatrical landscape, utilizing and providing ample opportunity to showcase the talent it sources from within the Laredo community.
While the run for The Good Doctor has ceased, auditions for the upcoming production, The Last Five Years, will run from January 17 and 18 at the Shoebox Theater, with a planned show run from March 12 to March 22.
