The cast of “Circle Mirror Transformation.” Photo by Harvey Levine.

Co-produced by Bill Hurlbut and Tristan Poje and directed by Rob Gorman, “Circle Mirror Transformation” by Annie Baker follows an acting class in a small town in Vermont over the course of six weeks. The class is small—only five members including the instructor, Marty (Mara Rosenberg) and her husband, James (David Samuels) who have been married for several years. Also in the class is the recently divorced Schultz (David Dieudonne), and he appears to have joined the class in hopes of meeting someone. He actually does meet Theresa (Diana Valle), a young actress who has recently moved to the area from New York City after a broken romance. Lauren (Davis Leonard) is a sixteen-year-old who wants to learn to act so she can get the lead in her high school’s production of “West Side Story.”

“Circle Mirror Transformation” is not just about a class on acting, but another classy act for Silver Spring Stage.

The characters’ background and feelings are presented via “acting” exercises that Marty has devised.  What starts out being thespian training becomes more of a series of psychodrama, therapy sessions.  The characters expose a great deal about themselves that exceed the leader’s ability to deal with these revelations. 

Some of these “exercises” are commonly used in acting classes and in many improvisational theatres.  To quote young Lauren, “When do we do real acting?” At times, the playwright seems to be poking fun at many of these theatrical conventions. At other times, Baker seems to be extolling their virtues. Simply put, is Brando any better trained than Olivier?

While we try to decide, we also learn about the lives of these five people. Their portrayals by this fine ensemble are the core of the play. The actors keep the plot moving and our focus riveted on their interactions. It is difficult in a production like this to choose an outstanding performance—each performer has helped to create a whole.

Rob Gorman direction seems to focus on the drama of the lives of the five characters rather than the more satirical parts of the story. The interplay between Mary and James, Schultz and Theresa, and later, James and Theresa, is dominant. 

Joy Wyne’s set is reflective of the playwright’s conception of a room without windows where the characters play out their lives for an hour at a time. The lighting design by Steve Deming compliments the set nicely. Sound design by Adam Parker, along with Deming’s lighting, help fill the quiet interludes between scenes. Jennifer Morrissey has some very clever costume designs that help create time changes seamlessly as one day’s session rapidly flows into another.

“Circle Mirror Transformation” is not just about a class on acting, but another classy act for Silver Spring Stage.

Running Time: One hour and 40 minutes with no intermission.

Advisory: Includes some coarse language, references to violence or abuse and mentions sexual situations.

“Circle Mirror Transformation” runs weekends through October 8, 2022 at Silver Spring Stage, 10145 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, Maryland 20901 (Woodmoor Shopping Center). For more information and tickets, go to this link. Masks are required inside the theatre.

Ms. Brall is a graduate of the City College of New York with a B.A. in Theater. She has an M.A. in Theater from the State University of New York in Binghamton with a concentration in Directing. Growing up in New York City gave her a chance to see many Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. After college she worked as a Recreational Therapist and Activities Director. In that capacity she edited several house newsletters. Although not directly employed in Theater, Ms. Brall worked in community theater in this area as well as New Jersey and central Pennsylvania as a director, assistant director, stage manager and other behind the scenes jobs. She also served as president of the former Columbia Community Players. Ms. Brall also teaches improv at a local Sunday School.

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