
[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of “Walking in Space” written by Garry Michael Kluger, directed by Arden Theresa Lewis at Theatre West through October 8.
“Walking in Space” is a fictionalized autobiographical play about a family dealing with their drug-addicted mother in Baltimore in the 70s. From that description, you might think it would be depressing and dark. However, with gorgeously acidic, dry humor and the brilliant attention to detail, writer Garry Michael Kluger brings to this, his own story, and the play is anything but.
The family has lived in the same house for many years, their mother addicted at varying levels of intensity for as long as any of them can remember. Divorced from their father and unsuccessfully remarried twice, the last few years have taken their toll on Francine Silverman. Decades of barbiturates will do that in the end. This family, who have spent their time covering up for a parent barely able to function, are at the end of the road with her. The youngest child the only one remaining in the home now, but at 17, although in some ways much older than her years, she has dreams of her own and yearns to be free, torn of course by a need to protect her mother and a need to begin.

This moment in their lives is the turning point. When reality meets truth and something must be done. All four kids are called home and a decision is made, with the help of their family doctor, to hospitalise Francine and hope that in doing so this will force a purge of the drugs and a chance at a new life for them all.
It’s a riveting, often hilarious, and profoundly honest window into a world that a few too many of us have had some experience with. However, in the 70s there was little treatment for addiction and no real therapy or plan even to sustain whatever relief could be found. Basically, once the body had recovered from the dependancy, you were on your own. And so were your families. Weeks after Francine Silverman’s commitment to treatment she was home facing a future without uppers or downers and in the nervous and exhausted arms of her adult children with lives and dreams of their own.

“Walking in Space” is a really fascinating story and told with all the insight and nuance of one who’s been at the center of it. The characters are incredibly believable, their relationship to each other deep and visceral, with humor and secrets being their bond.
What a wonderful group of actors though. To find actors as fine as these to play a family of children so hurt and so broken by this experience is quite a thing to be sure. They even look alike! And the connections between them are quite beautiful and truly make this story come alive.

But it’s the writing that holds them all together and the arc of the story, so wonderfully paced and crafted. I wonder what it must feel like to watch them all relive your life on stage. Every scene a memory and every tear shed something real. Garry Michael Kluger has shared something meaningful and full of purpose with his audience and that is truly a gift.
As usual Theatre West brings engaging and important human stories to the stage. “Walking in Space” is another excellent work and well worth seeing. How incredible it is that for a few dollars and a couple of hours of your time, you can be a witness to something as wonderful as this. Aren’t we the lucky ones?
Tickets:
When:
Through October 8
Where:
Theatre West
3333 Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles
The Cast
Members of the “Silberman” family at Theatre West include Mary Elisabeth Somers as Patti, Cecil Jennings as Kirby, Hogan Mason as Matthew and Liv Denevi as Lori. Kathie Barnes takes on the role of their single, twice-divorced mother, Francine. Also in the cast are Andrew Cereghino as Keith Schwartz, Patti’s on-again-off-again boyfriend, and David Mingrino as Dr. Collar, the family physician.
The Team
The creative team features scenic designer Ernest McDaniel and lighting designer Malcolm Wilson. In addition to directing, Lewis takes on costume design. The assistant director is Amelia Vargas and the production stage manager is Dillon Mount. Meg Lin produces for Theatre West. Walking in Space is supported by the L.A. County Department of Arts and Culture as part of Creative Recovery L.A., an initiative funded by the American Rescue Plan.