BWW Reviews: COLLAPSE at the Know Theatre

What happens when the world feels like it's collapsing around you and you have no control? The characters in the new play, Collapse by Allison Moore, attempt to make some sense out of their serious issues, yet with a uniquely comedic twist.

Now through March 3rd, the Know Theatre presents the play about David (Brian Isaac Phillips), who was unfortunately on the bridge in Minneapolis when it unexpectedly collapsed in 2007, and his wife, Hannah (Annie Fitzpatrick). David was seriously injured in the accident, and though physically recovered, he now suffers from PTSD, unable to cross bridges, go up in elevators, or many other panic-induced tasks. He spends his time pretending to be an alcoholic (but really he's killing the plant with his beer). Hannah is high-strung, stressed out, and has that drowning feeling of no control over anything in her life anymore.

The more Hannah tries to control everything around her, the more out of control things become. After talking David through giving her a hormone injection shot to help with fertility, she tries unsuccessfully to get David to go to a support group for PTSD. And when Hannah's free-spirit, non-traditional sister Susan (Torie Wiggins) arrives unannounced, she only adds to the already overwhelming events.

Through some twisting of words, Hannah ends up going to the support group meeting instead of David, only she can't bring herself to go in and instead she meets Ted (Brian Griffin). Ted, of course, has his own anxiety and lack of control issues though.

The bridge looms ominously over the characters on the stage throughout the show. After several twists, turns, and attempts at control, David and Susan end up at the most unexpected place: hanging off the side of the bridge that's been haunting them.

Everyone helps keeps the pace tight, even with a lot of heavy dialog. Phillips does an amazing job with David. He builds David's tension perfectly, from a closed off man struggling to cope until the end when he reaches his breaking point. Fitzpatrick has the perfect amount of control over Hannah, delivering her high-strung dialog almost faster than she can speak.

The relation between the collapse of a physical object without warning or obvious reason (no aliens attacked) to the collapse of emotions and psychological wellbeing works in the play. Collapse is a play where, after the actors take their bows, you want to stay in your seat and process what just happened, before walking back out into your own reality.

Now through March 3rd, catch Collapse at the Know Theatre. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 the week of the performance (beginning Mondays at noon). Tickets can be purchased by visiting knowtheatre.com or by calling the box office at 513.300.KNOW (5669)