Family Week

by Sam Norton

Family Week is a twisted, yet undeniably funny play that tells the story of a family, their hardships, and how they learn to cope with the rough hand that life has dealt them.

Claire has checked herself into a rehabilitation center in the Arizona desert, far out in the middle of nowhere, after the death of her 17-year-old son. Claire's mother, sister and and daughter arrive for Family Week to help Claire, they find themselves in need of help themselves. Trying to compensate for her pitiful previous attempts at motherhood, Lena arrives in a desperate attempt to reconcile her mistakes. Kay copes with the death of her only sibling, her abusive mother’s frail state, the fresh divorce of her parents, and the unforgiving pains of puberty and high school. Claire’s sister Rickey would seem to be the only comic relief, but as the play delves deeper into her character, there is nothing funny about her. Together, these four women probe through their pasts, under the watchful eye of the staff, to discover a way to live with the horrors that haunt them.

Family Week is a beautifully written, sassy, well-acted play. It’s fast-paced and packed with loose ends that allow the audience to understand for themselves what the characters are going through. Each line is delivered and written in the most poignant manner so as to twist and mold your emotions.

When it comes to the tragedy of life, this play does not beat around the bush. When you exit the theatre, you feel every bit as empty and alone as the characters of the play. Family Week, with it’s very real people and very real emotions, will bring a pang to your heart.

TICKETS: thru May 23 • $15 student rush • Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher St.