AN ABSURDIST ROMP
INTO MODERN LOVE AND MADNESS
Desert Ensemble Theater presents Christopher Durang’s hilarious comedy, Beyond Therapy, through April 27. The play is an exploration of neurosis, relationships, and the absurdity of modern psychobabble, and in this staging, directed by Jerome Elliott Moskowitz, the production delivers a chaotic cocktail of comedy and existential dread that somehow feel both delightfully dated and eerily current.
Melanie Blue
At the heart of Beyond Therapy are Bruce and Prudence, two romantically entangled New Yorkers navigating the murky waters of love with the dubious help of their equally unhinged therapists. The play’s darkly comic tone and rapid-fire dialogue demand precision and comic timing, and this cast more than rises to the challenge.
Isaac Gaeta-Tollette, Clare Merritt, Anthony Nannini
As Bruce, the emotionally fluid and endlessly optimistic romantic, Isaac Gaeta-Tollette brings warmth and infectious energy to the role. His commitment to Bruce’s contradictions—simultaneously needy and nurturing—grounds the character’s absurdities, which makes him compelling. J. Claire Merritt, playing Prudence, effectively navigates between satire and sincerity. Her portrayal reveals a character both desperate for connection and terrified of it, delivering comedic beats with a neurotic charm.
Anthony Nannini
The supporting cast are the real standouts in this production, in particular Melanie Blue as the therapist Mrs. Wallace and Anthony Nannini as Bruce. The humor and absurdity in this production increases exponentially when either one enters the scene. In their scenes together the comedy crackles. Raul Valenzuela as Stuart, Prudence’s smug, sexist former lover, offers a performance full of over-the-top bravado.
Clare Merritt, Anthony Nannini, Melanie Blue, Isaac Gaeta-Tollette, Raul Valenzuela
Under Moskowitz’s direction, the production effectively grounds the play’s absurdity in truth ensuring its emotional stakes remain palpable. The pacing is brisk but not rushed, allowing moments of genuine connection to shine through the madness.
Isaac Gaeta-Tollette, Clare Merritt
Thomas L. Valach’s set design achieves the seemingly impossible, which is to make the tiny stage of Theater 3 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center feel expansive. He effectively uses the whole space creating distinct locations throughout the unit set, further grounding the absurdity in reality.
Clare Merritt, Raul Valenzuela, Isaac-Gaeta Tollette
While Beyond Therapy may show its age in some references and attitudes, its themes of emotional instability, the search for love, and our endless need to be understood remain timeless. A hilarious and heartfelt descent into romantic dysfunction—this Beyond Therapy is worth the session.
Anthony Nannini, Clare Merrit, Isaac Gaeta-Tollete
photos by Tara Howard
Beyond Therapy
Camelot Theaters in the Palm Springs Cultural Center
2300 East Baristo Road in Palm Springs
Fri at 7:30; Sat at 2 & 7:30; Sun at 2
end on April 27, 2025
for tickets ($38.59 with service fee), call 760.565.2476 or visit Desert Ensemble
