ICE, LOVE, AND LOOP PEDALS

A technically dazzling two-hander
that charms with ingenuity

Coachella Valley Repertory closes its season with the inventive two-hander Ernest Shackleton Loves Me, a production that reflects the company’s recent pivot toward more musical offerings; it’s a shift that’s paying off.

On the surface, the show—with a book by Joe DiPietro—seems deceptively simple, but it quickly reveals itself as a technically complex feat. Through a seamless blend of live performance, looping technology, projections, and sound design, the production creates a theatrical environment that feels far larger than its two-person cast would suggest. What’s most impressive is how effortlessly it all plays—the audience may not even realize the level of precision required to make it work.

The production begins in a richly detailed Brooklyn apartment, brought to vivid life by Jimmy Cuomo’s expansive scenic design. It’s a space packed with levels, textures, and practical lighting—so visually engaging that any initial disbelief about its “low-income musician” inhabitant quickly fades. When Kat (Sarah Manton) enters, answering a ringing phone (a familiar theatrical device that still does the job), we’re introduced to a video game composer whose creative process becomes the show’s first display of technical wizardry.

Using an electric violin and a variety of percussion instruments, Ms. Manton builds layered musical loops in real time, guided by Music Director Stephen Hulsey. Each sound—violin phrases, tapped rhythms, drum accents—is captured and repeated, forming an intricate musical landscape as she sings. The fact that all of this is performed live adds to the sense of immediacy and accomplishment.

A large upstage screen serves as both backdrop and storytelling device, transforming into a computer interface, a communication portal, and eventually something far more surreal. Through it, Kat receives calls from her employer and her boyfriend—both played by Matt Miles—before the narrative takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of famed Arctic explorer Ernest Shackleton (also Miles). Appearing first onscreen and then, quite improbably, through Kat’s refrigerator, Shackleton becomes both romantic lead and larger-than-life adventurer.

Miles handles the transition with flair, initially leaning into the grandiosity of the historical figure before settling into a more personable presence. His Shackleton balances humor and heroism, particularly as he recounts his efforts to save his stranded crew. Manton, meanwhile, anchors the production with a performance that evolves from distracted modern artist to someone discovering newfound resilience.

The staging makes inventive use of the apartment setting, with crates, ladders, and furniture transforming into boats, mountains, and icy terrain as the story unfolds. The show’s blend of contemporary technology and early 20th-century adventure creates a unique tonal mix, further reflected in the score by Brendan Milburn (music) and Valarie Vigoda (lyrics), with orchestrations and additional music by Ryan O’Connell. Early numbers lean into electronic, loop-based compositions, while the Antarctic sequences draw on sea shanty traditions—an unusual but engaging juxtaposition.

Despite the inherent improbability of its premise—two characters separated by more than a century forming a connection—the production maintains its charm through committed performances and energetic direction by Craig Wells. The technical elements, combined with the actors’ versatility, kept me engaged throughout the brisk 90-minute runtime.

Closing out a season that included the large-scale success of Guys and Dolls, this intimate production offers an interesting counterpoint. It demonstrates that spectacle doesn’t require a large cast—only imagination, precision, and performers capable of carrying the weight. Coachella Valley Repertory continues to show a knack for delivering polished musical experiences, regardless of scale.

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

photos by Lani Garfield

Ernest Shackleton Loves Me
Coachella Valley Repertory, 68510 E Palm Canyon Dr, Cathedral City
90 minutes, no intermission
Wed & Sat at 2 & 7; Thurs & Fri at 7; Sun at 2
ends on May 10, 2026
for tickets ($60–$110), call 760.296.2966 x115 or visit CV Rep

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦