Theater Review: Water by the Spoonful

Most of the characters in Quiara Alegría Hudes’ “Water by the Spoonful” are living on the edge – of cocaine addiction, job insecurity, squalor or maybe even reality or the bounds of society.

The second play in Hudes’ “Elliot” trilogy, “Water” follows the life and times of 20-something Iraq war veteran Elliot Ortiz, seven years after his return from the war. He now makes sandwiches for the local Subway Hoagies, scores an occasional job as a model or actor, and is trying to get off crack cocaine. He’s also trying to avoid a Ghost (Kayvan Ameen Mohsenzadeh), who’s been haunting him since Iraq.

Elliot’s mom Odessa (Catalina Maynard) lives on the financial edge working janitorial jobs, and also (as Haikumom) runs an internet chat room for fellow recovering addicts. Here we will meet Fountainhead aka John (Christian Haines), a computer programmer and entrepreneur; Maine resident Orangutan (Emily Song Tyler), and IRS pencil-pusher and San Diegan Chutes&Ladders (Bryan Barbarin).

The action occurs in two worlds: a virtual one, where addicts meet, and the real one, but though you’ll see an occasional computer, the encounters take place as if in real time. Real time has several locations, and the cast is often seen moving furniture around. Got it?

Don’t worry about the logistics here. Just know that Director Meg DeBoard has it all under pretty good control, and let yourself sink into whichever reality it is at any given moment.

Elliot’s cousin Yazmin (Melissa Ortiz), a trained pianist and John Coltrane fan, would like to be playing jazz but instead teaches about it as an adjunct professor of music. She’s the only non-addict in the group.

These characters are all trying to make their lives better, which for some of them may be happening a spoonful at a time. That spoonful has other connections which I’ll leave you to discover.

This is a difficult play to produce, especially in the round and without microphones. The cast is excellent, but it’s frequently difficult to hear the actors when they’re on the other side of the room. I’m glad I read the play before I saw it.

Maynard anchors the cast with a lovely performance as Odessa, the mom figure who has her own problems but wants to make sure everyone else gets the help they need.

Lone is excellent as Elliot, haunted by both the war and the addiction that won’t let go of him. 

Haines’ Fountainhead is familiar as the addict who takes most of the show to even admit his problem.

Barbarin is fun to watch as Chutes&Ladders, though his diction could be crisper. But he gets some great lines. Here’s my favorite: “If you are eating a shit sandwich, chances are you ordered it.”

Tyler is adorable as community college graduate Orangutan, who wants to figure out what comes next.

Melissa Ortiz’ Yazmin can come play Coltrane for me anytime.

And Mohsenzadeh’s Ghost is fine in a small but important role.

Congratulations also to the excellent design team: Yi-Chien Lee, set design; MaeAnn Ross, sound design; Danita Lee, costume design; Minjoo Kim, lighting design, Blake McCarty, projections and Val Philyaw, props design.

Kudos to Cygnet for a fine production of this difficult play.

“Water by the Spoonful” plays through April 24, 2022 at Cygnet Theatre, 4040 Twiggs Street, San Diego.

Shows Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m.

For tickets: (619) 337-1525 or boxoffice@cygnettheatre.com (open Tues-Sun from 11am-5pm).