Reviewed by Judy Richter
Attention deficit disorder, ADD,
also known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, seems to be a
growing problem among children today. Experts blame it on environmental toxins,
diet and/or food allergies, heredity and even vaccines, but no one knows for
sure what causes it. Likewise, no one knows for sure how to prevent, treat or
cure it, but many remedies have been tried, including drugs like Ritalin.
Faced
with a child who probably has ADD, Mama (Rebecca Dines) and Dad (Robert Yacko) explore all possible avenues in
Lisa Loomer's
"Distracted,"
being staged by TheatreWorks under the direction of Armando Molina. Still, nothing seems to help
9-year-old Jesse (Gabriel Hoffman), who is heard but who remains offstage for most of the
two-act play. Just getting him off to bed at night and to school in the morning
frazzles both parents. Once he gets to school, Jesse is disruptive, disturbing
his 27 classmates and his overworked teacher, Mrs. Holly (Elizabeth Carter). Doctors, psychologists,
psychiatrists and other practitioners (played by Carter, Dena Martinez and Cassidy Brown) aren't much help. Neither are
neighbors Sherry (Tara Blau), who swears her son is a different boy since taking
Ritalin, and Vera (Suzanne Grodner), who takes drugs like Prozac herself. Teenage neighbor
Natalie (Jayne Deely) baby sits Jesse and gets along well with him, but she has her own
problems, manifested by cutting.
The
production is well acted but overproduced. Molina and his design team -- Melpomene
Katakalos, set; Cathleen
Edwards,
costumes; Michael Palumbo, lighting; Cliff Caruthers, sound; and Jason H. Thompson, videos -- emphasize the
distractions in today's society with ringing cell phones, multiple TV screens
and loud music. Unfortunately, they rely too much on these peripheral factors,
thus distracting the audience from the focus of the play -- the anguish that
ADD brings to one well-meaning family. Some of the amusing irony of New
Age-type professionals also is lost, as is the intimacy of the family itself.
This production is a sharp contrast from the disturbing, thought-provoking
version seen at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2007.
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