‘The Grown-Ups’ @ Kitchen Dog Theater
Photos courtesy of Kitchen Dog Theater
—Jan Farrington
While the always-dynamic Kitchen Dog Theater is building its snazzy new kennel on Algiers St. in Dallas, we’re still loving the chance to see KDT make theater in some cool corners of the city.
The Grown-Ups was first performed outdoors in a Brooklyn back-yard space—so taking it to a bit of lawn just outside Samuell-Grand Amphitheater seems to fit. On the grass a cool breeze springs up as the sun goes down; a fire pit and chairs at center “stage” (well, center grass) is surrounded by a circle of plastic chairs for us, the watchers. Written by Simon Henriques and Skylar Fox, it’s the story of a woodsy summer camp and the senior counselors (plus Aidan, a young-adult assistant director) at Camp Indigo Woods, on a lake somewhere up in the Northeast.
From problems with touchy new neighbors around the lake to rumblings (sometimes literally) of political and social upheaval, things are “louder” at the lake this summer. The world seems to be pushing at the edges of this safe summer space, and the feeling grows: We’re gonna need some grown-ups.
The play is performed as a series of abrupt evening scenes, with counselors gathering to talk over the day, drink a beer, roast s’mores (or just snarf a cold marshmallow when stress is high). They try to understand each other, trade off telling the same scary story, get their feelings hurt, form bonds and alliances. Each scene ends with a startling sound (Noah James Heller) and flash as the cozy firelight (Aaron Johansen) snaps off—replaced by chilly white light in the fire pit—and snaps on again for another summer evening. The effect makes us jump and leaves us uneasy, especially as we don’t get many clues about what’s happening.
It’s enough to say, perhaps, that during the summer of the play we begin to see grown-ups, not kids, clustering around the fire pit. We watch them use cell phones for more than selfies. And we see a problem-solving game (suggested by a counselor) grow into something more like the skills of decision-making and self-government…which might come in handy.
Director Katie Ibrahim gives a realism to the the play’s mix of easy-going camp life and the counselors’ sense of confusion and worry. (The play’s funny lines and odd relationships struck home for plenty of ex-campers in the audience.) The young cast matches Ibrahim’s skill with a blend of angst and awkwardness—but with a sense that they’re making moves and decisions that could change lives. Camp isn’t just kid stuff any more.
Aidan (Thomas Magee), one of the camp assistant directors/gophers, is a bit older than the senior counselors, though not by much. He’s a stickler for camp rules, and uncomfortable being too chummy with the teen counselors. They don’t like him all that much. Over time, though, he wears himself out being the night-time watcher for the camp, and hits a moment when he understands he’s responsible for everyone…even if he’s not sure what to do. Definitely a grown-up in the making.
Maeve (Olivia Cinquepalmi) is the Alpha Girl of the counselors, sweet as pie and twice as perky, but with currents running through her that aren’t always as sparkly as she pretends. Her BFF and sidekick Becca (Emily Buesing) is a quiet, go-along girl who just might be seeing Maeve more clearly these days. Lukas (Brady White), is a friendly young man who seems almost too tender-hearted for the world—but he’s a fierce champion of the little boys in his care. And Cassie (Vinita Dixit), a camper who’s returned after many years’ absence, challenges them to stop doing everything the way it’s always been done. Maybe a changing world needs some new ideas—and her circular “problem-solving” game pushes them to think, propose, consider solutions…and take action.
The sounds of urban Dallas surrounded us on the lawn at Samuell-Grand, and fit right in with the description of a “louder” summer at camp. Emergency lights, planes heading into Love Field, a sharp pop from…oh, just an exhaust pipe, and a small drone hovering overhead: Yep, the outside world truly is getting closer to camp. How would we handle it? Playwrights Henriques and Fox leave us with a list of questions to consider…and I believe it might be time to keep them close to our hearts.
WHEN: April 24-May 11, 2025
WHERE: Samuell-Grand Amphitheatre, 1500 Tennison Pkwy., Dallas
WEB: kitchendogtheater.org
