AN AUTHENTIC, FUNNY ACCOUNT OF
SOBRIETY, STUMBLES, AND SURVIVAL

Recovery from substance abuse isn’t just about putting down the drug of choice and living happily ever after. The “recovery” part then starts. It involves dealing with who you are in the world without being drunk, stoned or high. It becomes a lifelong process of self-examination. Along the way, of course, there are painful revelations and amends to be made. This road less traveled is not a linear path forward. Setbacks, including relapses, are often part of the journey. The road to recovery can be scary and lonely. Asking for help is considered to be one of the best ways to get outside of yourself.

(front) Ben Hirschhorn (back) Barbara Kingsley,
Pamela Reed, Michael Cullen, and Peter Van Wagner

Peter Van Wagner, Ben Hirschhorn, and Barbara Kingsley

Now receiving a top-notch production at Berkeley Rep, The Reservoir benefits from Mike Donahue’s sharp, imaginative direction and a cast that delivers across the board. The play, by Jake Brasch, may be semi-autobiographical, but it feels universal in its humor, heartbreak, and honesty. With a spare staging and emotionally precise performances, the story of a young addict stumbling toward sobriety becomes deeply theatrical—moving, funny, and never less than compelling. This is exactly the kind of intimate, deeply human new work that makes Berkeley Rep one of the country’s leading theaters.

Barbara Kingsley and Ben Hirschhorn

In The Reservoir we are introduced to Josh, a teenager waking up from a bender and not sure where he is or how got there. He’s sure he had a good time though. He does have the presence of mind to remember that he got kicked out of a rehab center that his mother sent him to. He heads for home and is sternly met at the door by his mother Patricia who is at the end of her rope with Josh and his self-destructive behavior. As a final ultimatum to staying at home he’s told that he has to stay sober and get a job at the bookstore she owns. He begrudgingly agrees and winds up working — but not very well — for the store manager Hugo.

Barbara Kingsley, Pamela Reed, Peter Van Wagner, and Michael Cullen

Not finding emotional support from his mother, Joel then turns to his grandparents for love. Grandmother Irene is starting to show signs of Alzheimer’s and has been moved to a memory care unit. Grandpa Hank has his hands full caring for her. Seeing this as an opportunity to make up for being the prodigal grandson, Josh then decides to spend his free time with his grandparents playing games and doing memory exercises to theoretically ward off his grandmother’s mental decline.

Jeffrey Omura

He also includes his paternal grandparents in his activities. They are of the Jewish faith. “Shrimpy,” his grandfather at age 83 is studying the Torah for his second bar mitzvah. He and his wife, Grandma Bev have long since been divorced. Grandma Bev is a scientist and still smart as a whip. Josh attends her jazzercise class to get in shape and try to keep up with her. Having been to A.A. meetings in the past, Josh is doing everything possible to avoid the “cult” this time around.

Ben Hirschhorn, Barbara Kingsley, Michael Cullen, and Pamela Reed

His bouncing all over the place works for a while, until it doesn’t when a crisis occurs. Relapse is often a part of the recovery process that can make or break a recovering addict. Josh is at a make or break point in his life. In Act II as things continue to seemingly fall apart in Josh’s world, he’s ultimately forced to deal with his demons since he can no longer run from them. (One of the truisms about sobriety: The good news is that you feel EVERYTHING. The bad news is that you feel EVERYTHING.) Josh’s journey involves him discovering that there are no easy solutions but by leaning on his interfaith family, he’s on the right path. He can laugh, cry and grow with them. All the characters in this story are complex people at some kind of crossroads in their lives. There is just the right amount of humor and pathos with which we can all identify as we’re watching the intimate struggles within the family.

Pamela Reed and Ben Hirschhorn

On a stage devoid of furniture or props, Donahue has the actors fill the playing areas with their own movements delivered from all angles. As Josh, Ben Hirschhorn gives an exhaustive performance. Josh is unfiltered — offering internal monologues to us — and probably living with bipolar disorder. His manic energy never lets up as he articulates every thought.

Brenda Withers and Ben Hirschhorn

Brenda Withers plays Patricia and several other supporting characters; she is not only a quick-change artist, but she has the energy of a seasoned improv actor, seemingly effortlessly changing characters with a blink of an eye. Peter Van Wagner’s Grandfather “Shrimpy” probably gets the most laughs as the aging Jewish man still trying to remain vital in the world. His character is definitely comic relief. Barbara Kingsley’s Grandma Irene and Michael Cullen’s Grandpa Hank give sympathetic performances as they deal with Grandma Irene slowly losing in her battle with Alzheimer’s. Pamela Reed as Grandma Bev gives an amazing performance that stuns and moves us. She’s smart, funny, full of life and unpredictable. Starting out as a supporting loving grandmother, we slowly see what a powerhouse of a woman she is. Jeffrey Omura plays Hugo and several other characters as well.

Jeffrey Omura and Ben Hirschhorn

By the end of the show, all the characters have had emotional growth and changes. Things are not all tied up in a bow with everyone living happily ever after. Just as with “recovery”… it’s not about the destination but the journey itself.

(front) Ben Hirschhorn (back) Barbara Kingsley,
Pamela Reed, Michael Cullen, and Peter Van Wagner

photos by Kevin Berne

The Reservoir
Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Peet’s Theatre, 2025 Addison Street @ Shattuck
ends on October 12, 2025
for tickets ($31-$140), call 510.647.2949 or visit Berkeley Rep