The generation that prided itself on never growing old, who didn’t trust anyone over 30, and re-shaped the culture through sheer force of numbers is now approaching the 70 year mark. Morning After Grace, now playing at the Indiana Repertory Theatre, offers a glimpse into the complicated emotional landscape of Boomers growing older on their own terms.
Abigail (Laura T. Fisher) wakes up on Angus’s (Henry Woronicz) couch after a funeral — she doesn’t really know Angus and can’t quite remember how one thing led to another. Angus is bemused by the whole thing, explaining the women’s clothes in the closet are his wife’s — his dead wife, whose funeral they both just attended. Next door neighbor Ollie (Joseph Primes), a former Detroit Tiger, stops by to offer condolences on the loss of Grace, and finds the two together. Angus reveals that he was scrolling through his wife’s phone and found out she was having an affair with somebody whose initial was “O,” and assumes its Ollie. When it is revealed the Ollie is gay, Angus apologizes and begins to cycle through despair, rage, hopelessness, and finally acceptance of his wife’s death.
This dynamic and funny production will have you laughing and crying. Woronicz is a veteran of the IRT stage and portrays Angus as a man who thought he knew everything — until he didn’t. Fisher’s Abigail is worldly, educated woman who still retains a bit of romanticism to keep her going. Primes is a joy to watch as Ollie, the conflicted ex-athlete hobbled by injuries seen and unseen.
Janet Allen’s direction takes the players in unexpected physical and emotional directions. The beautiful Florida retirement home set is looks exactly like some of those McMansion style condos peddled to folks in their “sunset years” — all airy and light and granite countertopped and low maintenance — thanks to Bill Clarke. That bright Florida light throws shadows as well, thanks to Betsy Cooprider-Bernstein. Costume designer Guy Clark provides on-point late-Boomer wear for the retirement set.
Morning After Grace, written by Carey Crim, will run through Feb. 9 at the IRT. Visit irlive.com or call 317-635-5252 for tickets.
