It's a Family Affair: In 'Stick Fly,' A Summer Gathering on Martha's Vineyard Gets Rather Heated -- Chicago Theater Review

Theater Review

Stick Fly
a play by Lydia R. Diamond
directed by Ron OJ Parson
Writers Theatre, Glencoe, IL
Thru March 15
@@@@1/2

Think about your family.

Not just your spouse and kids, if you have such, but your parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, nieces, nephews, etc.

Undoubtedly, there are some pretty good stories you could tell. Arguments and disagreements you could share.

Good times, bad times, moments of profuse laughter and unstoppable tears.

This is why families—whether a writer’s own, entirely fictionalized or somewhere in between—are often chronicled in plays.

They are inherently ripe with both drama and comedy, with aspects that are unique and universal at the same time.

But while many excellent plays have been written about families, one can readily imagine the inherent challenges.

Photo credit on all: Michael Brosilow

Tell tales that feel too much like daily life and attendees might think, "My own family is more entertaining; why'd I pay good money for this?"

But if the writer weaves in a whole bunch of intersecting drama--as Lydia R. Diamond does in her fine 2008 play, Stick Fly--it can begin to stretch credulity and feel somewhat contrived.

Although family masterpieces like Eugene O'Neill Long Day's Journey Into Night and Tracy Letts' August: Osage County have had longer running times, and likewise a lot going on, there were points in watching Writers Theatre's strong take on Stick Fly that I felt it seemed overstuffed with numerous threads.

And yes, 20-30 minutes too long.

But I was kept entirely engaged, often riveted, with much to think about when the onstage action came to an end.

Pardon any plot details I don't get exactly right, as not only does Diamond give us much to follow--though director Ron OJ Parson keeps it quite digestible--but there isn't a synopsis I can readily find online.

But as a description without giving too much away, here goes.

The LeVay family owns a vacation home on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts.

The patriarch, Joe (David Alan Anderson) is an African-American neurosurgeon who I believe has long been married to a white woman from an extremely wealthy family, but she has not joined the family on this summer weekend.

Their sons are Flip (DiMonte Henning), a plastic surgeon and long something of a proud playboy, and Kent (Eric Gerard), a more sensitive, socially-conscious type who is--to Joe's chagrin--pursuing a fledgling career as an author.

Although Stick Fly dates back to 2008, it also helps that Diamond set it in 2005, before the days of Facebook and photo texting would make it less likely that Joe wouldn't yet know of the women in his sons' lives, or them of each other.

Kent has brought his fiance Taylor (Jennifer Lattimore), a daughter of divorce who grew up in relative hardship with her mom while her father was a famed social anthropologist.

Taylor is highly intelligent, studying biology pertaining to flies--hence the play's title--and while a bit geeky, rather assertive about perceived slights. Lattimore does a terrific job finding the right balance, including natural nervousness in Taylor's meeting her fiance's family.

Kent's girlfriend is an affluent, "pretty white girl" named Kimber (Kayla Raelle Holder), who though a tad pretentious is imbued with a strong sense of self and the gumption not to wilt under some withering glares and sharp rejoinders.

Joining these five at the house is Cheryl (Ayanna Bria Bakari, excellent here as she recently was in Writers' The Niceties), the daughter of the LeVay's longtime Vineyard housekeeper who is ill and having her daughter fill in.

There are several conversations--often quite charged--between characters in every possible pairing, as well as in larger groups and all together.

As I referenced, it will seem like there is a lot happening, maybe even too much, but to the credit of Diamond, Parsons and the entire cast, all of the characterizations and interactions are substantive and relatable.

There were points when I thought @@@@ (on my @@@@1/2) might be apt, which still signifies an excellent, engaging play.

But with some terrific escalating tension, Stick Fly plays out in a way that makes the myriad narrative strains and long runtime readily forgivable.

It isn't the best play I've ever seen, but it is a family drama that enlightened and moved me, including in various racial contexts.

And while I don't pretend to be an expert arbiter, just a theater lover with a blog, as a family play I liked Stick Fly--which ran on Broadway for just a few months starting in late 2011 and didn't garner a Tony nomination for Best Play--more than The Humans, which won that award in 2016.

Obviously it's all relative, but like families themselves family plays can be a tricky thing.

And despite all the ways it intertwines, Stick Fly comes together quite endearingly.