Dobama Theatre’s ‘The Comeuppance’ stays true to its definition

An enigma wrapped up in a conundrum or currently the Dobama Theatre production of “The Comeuppance”.

It is the day of the 20^th reunion of St. Anthony’s Class of 2002 in suburban Washington D.C. Five friends have gathered for a drink and “a smoke” before heading to the school for the “official proceedings”. The five who have gathered are remnants of a clique who had called themselves M.E.R.G.E. or Multi-Ethnic Reject Group Experience. These were “the bright kids” who took the advanced classes and who did not mingle with the rest of us rabble. They are also millennial children who have survived Columbine, 9/11 and two wars during their tender formative years. They are a hard group who drink hard, smoke dope and play hard.

It begins with Emilio (Ananias J. Dixon) having arrived at the home of his old classmate Ursula (Mariah Burks). Emilio is an artist of some note currently working with “Soundscapes” or auditory tours. The lights dim and a spot light shines on Emilio as he transforms into “Death”. He introduces himself by the various foreign religious titles he has accrued through the ages. Death has arrived as a psychopomp or escort for the newly deceased souls to the afterlife. The lights return as death says, “Oops, excuse me, It is beginning already?” as Emilio once again becomes Emilio. Eventually, Death will inhabit each person present at the pre-reunion gathering.

Ursula comes out to the porch with drinks for her and Emilio. Ursula is blind in one eye from diabetes and wears a black eye patch. She has mixed a large batch of her famous “Jungle Juice” (a high voltage cock-tale from their distant high school daze). She has received disturbing news that Simon (Brendan Lowry) will not be attending because he is stuck with an AI project. Simon has paid for a limo for them to arrive at the reunion in style.

Emilio lives in Germany and is a new father. He has taken time from an installation in New York City to attend the reunion. He talks about German words he has picked up that have no clear single word English translation such as “schadenfreude” or finding joy in other people’s misery, “fernweh” or longing to be far away from where you are right now and kuddelmuddel a totally chaotic situation or shitstorm. These telling words describe his thoughts on attending this reunion. Ursula talks about taking mixology classes during Covid but the partial loss of sight and depth perception keeps her from being a bartender.

Eventually they are joined by Caitlin a thin waif of a woman who unhappily married an older man who claims he did not storm the Capital during January 6. After a number of miscarriages they had decided that the adoption of two children was the better course of action. Her children are now college age with Brock starting law school at Madison and Olivia a Junior at the University of Virginia. Ursula brings out some grass and the three proceed to get high on weed and alcohol.

Last to arrive is Kristina (Roxana Bell) who went through JROTC in high school and ROTC in college in order to pay for college. She served in the military and afterwards became an anesthesiologist. She has brought her cousin Francisco (Ricky Ortega), aka Paco who while not a true M.E.R.G.E. is one by association. Paco and Caitlin dated heavily in high school. He served multiple Marine tours in Afghanistan, was severely injured and suffers from PTSD and Epilepsy. As the group proceeds into their heavy drinking (all except Paco), the language filters are removed as they reminiscence about their high school past. In short...it gets nasty.

In the end as Emilio once again becomes Death as we get a telling soliloquy of his purpose for being there. His newest modus operandi of dropping by to get more familiar with his “projects” that makes his job easier and more “human friendly”. He also tells how in spite of the tremendous loss due to Covid it actually brought people together and we became “the best versions of ourselves”.

Keeping in mind that the play runs 140 minutes without intermission, the characterizations are such that one feels fully engaged over the course of the production. It is evident that each actor was carefully selected for their role. Even the phone in from Brendan Lowry as Simon at the end while not in physical appearance is a substantial prescence.

Richard Morris, Jr.’s scenic design is an amazing full size house, porch and back yard that wows you. Jeremy Paul designs the intricate lighting that alerts us of Death’s prescence. Richard Ingraham sound design is peppered with appropriate songs from the era. Lainey Bodenburg outfits everyone in the correct attire. Tegan Wilson brings an array of needed props. The show is masterly directed by Nina Domingue.

To be honest, the show is rife with unlikable characters whom you would have avoided in high school as well as any reunion get together. That is its strength. As you realize that these students had been drawn together so many years ago by necessity you develop an empathy for each damaged person. Add to this a better understanding about Death and you have an intriguing work. The show title’s definition says it all...look it up.

Dobama Theatre’s production of “The Comeuppance” will be on stage at 2340 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, Ohio through April 4, 2026. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://www.dobama.org/ or call (216) 32-3396.