Out and About

Getting Out

A Theater Review

“Getting Out,” the current play at Performing Artists Collective Alliance, offers audiences a pull-no-punches portrait of a female ex-con trying to go straight.

Directed by Betsy Butoryak, the Marsha Norman play presents this drama in a unique way: the main character is played by two different actresses at two different times in her life—while onstage simultaneously.

Arlie (Rhonda Longo) is a wild child who refuses to conform. Her delinquency and recidivist behavior finally lands her in prison. Released after several years, a reformed, adult Arlie—who now prefers the name Arlene—(Ashley Meyer), moves far away from the prison, hoping to start a quiet life anew.

But life isn’t that easy.

She has a frayed, if not broken relationship with her mother (Coreen Scott), a prison guard Bennie (Joe Sample), who lurks around, seems to have ulterior motives, and the appearance of her former pimp, Carl (Aaron Holman), offer her little to be joyous about starting life anew. Only Ruby (Char Newport), an apartment neighbor, seems to care about Arlene and offers her friendship with no strings attached and a possible chance at redemption.

The show’s unique staging device offers the audience two sides of the same person: Arlie, who’s mostly behind bars in the background and Arlene, who’s in the forefront in her drab apartment. While Arlie acts up in prison railing against the guards, warden or prison doctor, Arlene is silently adjusting to her new surroundings. When the focus is on Arlene, Arlie silently stews in her prison cell, lying on her cot or eventually reading the Bible.

A gritty play, there are no heroes. As Arlene, Meyer makes good portraying an ordinary person who’s just trying to change her life for the better. As Arlie, beneath Longo’s realistic fury onstage belies her knowledge that she’s responsible for her own bad behavior. Sample’s Bennie is disturbingly good as a wolf in sheep’s clothing; while Holman’s pimp, Carl, is a whirling dervish wild card whose loving/threatening behavior towards Arlene doesn’t allow the viewer to take their eyes off him for a moment.

“Getting Out” illustrates that freedom comes at a price: Freedom. To make your own choices, good or bad.

***Daphne Beaumont
Heads up: “Getting Out” features strong language and sexual situations. Parental discretion is strongly advised.

Getting Out plays through June 16. PACA is located at 1505 State St., Erie. For more information, visit paca1505.org

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