Premiering Off-Broadway in 1989, Cindy Lou Johnson’s Brilliant Traces is one of those plays that can be either mesmerizing or exasperating and tiresome. Lacking a firm idea of what it wants to be, Soul Gym Productions’ new mounting at the Hudson for a brief three-day run, fell firmly in the latter.

In the middle of a whiteout deep in Alaska, Rosannah (Nicole Varona), a distraught woman wearing a wedding dress, barges into a lonely shack, gives a lengthy monologue, then collapses. Henry (Teddy Larsen), the reclusive man who lives there, takes her in. When she finally comes to, after sleeping for two straight days, the two then spend the rest of the play avoiding each other’s questions amid growing sexual attraction. It’s about 80 minutes long, but 40 pass before Henry asks why she left her wedding.

Johnson’s writing has a screwball comedy aspect to it, with sudden turns into violence, eroticism, and anguish. However, Jennifer Monaco’s mild and naturalistic direction doesn’t tie any of it together; tone often changes line by line. There were times I felt she was missing the comedy entirely, like with early dialogue that I could easily picture Cary Grant and Carole Lombard delivering with flair. Larsen and Varona are both capable actors, but I didn’t completely buy their performances, particularly Varona, who has an off-kilter look that undercut her dramatic scenes. As a pair, they had no sexual tension, making their sudden couplings rather jarring. The trio had such a loose grasp that the friendly audience, while admiring the acting prowess on display, didn’t quite know how to take in the play, often laughing at serious moments, such as when Rosannah talked about hitting her Alzheimer’s-afflicted dad.

Production value was much higher than I was expecting for such a short run. The uncredited set design included some choice appliances and ragged curtains, effectively evoking the hermit’s cabin. Projection design by Tori Oliphant was on the nose: Henry talks about currents of anguish inside him, while rushing water is projected behind him. Similarly obvious, the uncredited lighting design dimmed whenever an “important” moment was occurring. Amanda Monaco’s sound was sometimes atmospheric, while at other times inserted distracting music.

Soul Gym hopes to take Brilliant Traces on tour. Based on this first public outing, it still needs a firm, cohesive grasp at the top to put it together.

photos courtesy of the production

Brilliant Traces
Soul Gym Productions
Hudson Guild Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd
played September 11-13, 2025
for more info, visit IG: @soulgymprod