Theater Review: Life Sucks

                            The cast of "Life Sucks"

If you asked me to describe life in the Covid era, I might well say “life sucks.” But playwright Aaron Posner beat me to it – and he’s not even talking about Covid in his new play “Life Sucks,” in its West Coast premiere through Feb. 27 at Cygnet Theatre.

Posner found similarities between life today and a cholera epidemic in Chekhov’s time (the playwright was also a doctor), and has reworked Chekhov’s 1897 “Uncle Vanya” (about aimlessness and wasted lives) to something that plays like a parody, though Posner calls it an homage.

Rob Lutfy has been tapped as director – an excellent choice, as Lutfy seems to get the point, which is that life sometimes really does suck, but we can get through it with a little bit of luck and the help of friends.

He’s moved the locale to contemporary San Diego, and added an audience-participation component, so theatergoers not only get to watch, but are asked to respond at appointed times.

Chekhov’s main characters are here: The old gray-haired Professor (Frank DiPalermo), married to lovely young thing Ella (Emily Shackelford), who is sought after by handsome (not to mention alcoholic) Dr. Astor (Jorge Rodriguez), among others. 

Then there’s Vanya (MJ Sieber), getting up there in age and beginning to realize his whole life has been a waste, and Vanya’s niece Sonya (Savanna Padilla), who actually owns the house where we meet these folks. Sonya would love to be sought after by the handsome doctor, but it is not to be.

Along for the ride are two characters not in the original, both female roles: young Babs (Patty Gallagher), a potter, and the amusing Pickles (Beatrice Basso).

The opening scene is more Chekhov than it meant to be: the light switcher went out, and it took two tries to get it back in working order. But that’s the kind of life we’re talking about, where nothing works quite right.

Much of the charm of this piece is in the artistic design, beginning with  Yi-Chien Lee’s set design – a huge quilt as backdrop, with chairs and lamps placed around the stage. There’s a country look about it too. 

Minjoo Kim’s lighting adds atmosphere and sometimes humor, as do Shirley Pierson’s woodsy-look costumes. Peter Herman’s wigs and makeup designs fit right in as well, as do Steven Leffue’s sound designs .

The atmosphere goes from funny to sad to downright depressing and back, as the characters make lists of what they love and what they hate, and attempt to  figure out how to minimize the sadness.

Is life worth living, with all these problems? Sure it is, at least sometimes, and it’s those times we’re all looking for.

Don’t miss this strange and (sometimes) wonderful play.

“Life Sucks” plays onstage through Feb. 27, 2022 at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town and on demand through Feb. 28, 2022. An ASL interpreted performance on Feb. 23 is also available. Call the box office at 619-337-1525.

Proof of vaccination and the wearing of masks required for live performances.