Silver Spring Stage has been a prominent local institution for over half a century. Nestled in the atmospheric basement blackbox of the Woodmoor Shopping Center in Four Corners, their latest production, Colman Domingo's "Dot," is currently running through December 15. This play takes us on a journey as the Shealy family gathers in West Philadelphia for another Christmas. Oldest daughter Shelly is grappling with the care of her aging mother Dotty, played by the sweetly moving Bridgett McCain, who is suffering from Alzheimer's. Shelly's younger siblings, Donnie and Averie, also face their own difficulties. The stress, absurdity, and struggle of the family converge as Dot moves in and out of lucidity.

Impressive Pedigree but Script Flaws

This play boasts an impressive pedigree, having premiered at the prestigious Humana Festival in Louisville in 2015 and being staged Off-Broadway at the Vineyard the following year. The playwright, Colman Domingo, clearly has a personal connection to the material. However, I can't help but feel that the script needed more workshopping, especially in the first act. It leans heavily on exposition, with characters constantly lobbing information and shocking revelations at each other. For most of the first act, whenever the characters aren't doing this, they're already coming in with heightened emotions about secondary plot points. Additionally, a character with dementia named "Dotty" and a loyal caregiver named "Fidel" might be a bit too obvious.The first act particularly affects the character of next-door neighbor Jackie, played by Pamela Northrup. Her dialogue mainly consists of reactions to Shelly's exposition, such as "Really?" "Oh!" "And then what?" and "Noooo!". Before announcing that she's pregnant, she seems to be somewhat forgotten in the second act and is even picked up off the floor like an old coat. I can't recall a character being so ill-served by a playwright, especially one with a primary background in acting.As Shelly, Brianna Nobles has a challenging role. She plays a character who is raw and burnt out, making her choices seem almost unlikable at times. She drinks during the day, lies, constantly corrects, argues with, or otherwise weakens her mother when she's confused or in a fog of forgetfulness. However, Nobles manages to find the human moments and brings Shelly back from the brink, which is no small feat.When middle child Donnie, played by the earnest Luke Hellyer, and his husband Adam, played by the ebullient Mark Boisvert, sneak in after dark in the middle of an argument about the juice cleanse they chose to start just before Christmas (a decision that any good queer knows is best made on New Years Day!), I start to wonder if Domingo is intentionally setting up his characters to fail.

Second Act: Navigating Through Troubled Waters

After a long first act of information dumping and yelling, I approached the second act with some apprehension. While I wouldn't call it a Christmas miracle, the arrivals of youngest daughter Averie, played by Jo Monsplaisir, and slightly illegal caregiver Fidel, played by James-Curtis Bowers, help to navigate the choppy waters and right the ship. Monsplaisir's energy and vitality, along with Bowers' grounded and empathetic performance, provide much-needed spirit and human decency. It's ironic that Averie, a minor internet celebrity, ends up being the most selfless character. Kudos are due to Bowers and dialect coach Maureen Roult for their excellent accent work.As the script starts to find its humanity, the tension between the characters becomes more rooted, the performances sharpen, and Rikki Lacewell's direction tightens up. We can start to connect with these characters as they look past their own problems and try to repair the harm they do to each other. The play ultimately becomes an effective argument for the power of family and love in a time of crisis. It's important to acknowledge Silver Spring Stage's commitment to making space for BIPOC stories and artists.Joey Olsen's set design is truly remarkable. Don Slater's lighting, along with director Lacewell's sound and costuming, create a warm and homey environment. I attended the opening night, and I'm confident that the issues with pace and cues will improve as the play progresses. It's only playing for two weeks, so it's definitely worth your attention.Running Time: Two hours and 15 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission."Dot" plays through December 15, 2024 (Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 pm) at Silver Spring Stage, 10145 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD. Purchase tickets ($22–$25, with discounts for seniors and students) at the door or online. For more information, call (301) 593-6036, visit the website, or email [email protected].COVID Safety: Masks are encouraged but not required.