Colette Freedman’s play Sister Cities, about four sisters who reunite at their mother’s apartment after hearing of her alleged suicide, is currently on stage at NOVA Nightsky Theater in Falls Church, Virginia. The emotional story takes on complicated topics like the difficulties of caregiving, alcoholism, and assisted suicide while delivering surprisingly funny dialogue and heartwarming reconciliations.
Director Sarah Baczewski does a great job infusing the scenes with a genuine feel and natural cadence as the women interact in the small space occupied by the theater company. I have seen a couple of performances in the same room and am always impressed by the ease with which the vibe of the room conforms to the material.
Due to an electrical issue in the building the night I attended, the lighting design by Adam Ressa and Jaclyn Robertson could not be used. But even with general overhead lights, the compelling performances and powerful script held the audience’s full focus.
The show begins as the siblings interact for the first time in years. Ilyana Rose Davila plays Austin, a writer who recently moved back in with her mom after learning her mom had ALS, and Elyse R. Smith is Caroline, a tight-laced lawyer struggling to understand how her once vibrant mother could have made the decision to end her own life.
Each of the daughters has a different father and is named after the city they were born in, sort of. As the eldest, Carolina is technically named after a state (two states, if we’re being precise), but their mom followed a theme from there.
Sophie Page plays the youngest, Baltimore. She is in her early twenties and exudes a youthful and carefree energy. And Dallas, played by Jessi Shull, is the picture-perfect sister with the flawless hair and picket fence.
It is clear from the start that the sisters have all gone off on their own paths and drifted apart in their adult years. The quartet tease each other, almost crossing the line into outright harassment, about their eating habits, relationship failures, and who their mother’s favorite was (unanimously voted to be Austin). Their banter is harsh but genuine, and the actresses play well off one another, demonstrating the hilarious familial balance of annoyance and affection a person has for their kin.
Mary Fettes plays Mary, the mother. Though her character is not seen in the flesh until the second act, her presence is felt in the impact she has on each of her children, and the shocking realization that her body is still lying in the bathtub in the next room while Austin waits for the coroner to arrive.
The crowd first hears about Mary’s life, habits, and characteristics through the memories of her daughters in the first act. But when Mary appears onstage, she is in the final week of her life and the stark difference between the picture that was painted and the exhausted figure, unable to get up from a chair without assistance, is a gut punch. Fettes conveys the strain of someone trapped in their own failing body, which strikes a chord for anyone who has experienced the decline of a loved one.
Freedman’s Sister Cities is touching, at times painful, and pushes the boundaries of morality on the conflicts that end-of-life care can bring up. This cast of five women is incredibly strong, and their cohesion as a family is raw and real. The mother-daughter dynamic takes on many different forms, and while those relationships are far from perfect, they are beautiful to watch when done well. Each of the actresses bring their own strength, vulnerability, and heart to this performance, and the result is a powerful piece of theater that will make you gasp, cry, and laugh out loud.
Community theater can be a grossly undervalued market, and I appreciate NOVA Nightsky Theater for consistently producing lesser-known works and creating a theater space that is clearly for the love of the art and the desire to share that passion with others. Congratulations to the cast and crew for putting on a compelling performance.
Running Time: Approximately one hour and 45 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.
Sister Cities plays through September 28, 2024, presented by NOVA Nightsky Theater performing at 1057 W Broad St, Suite 216, Falls Church, VA. Tickets are $28 with a $.70 service fee for general seating and are available for purchase online or at the door.
See the digital program here.
Sister Cities
By Colette Freedman
CAST
Mary: Mary Fettes; Carolina: Elyse R. Smith; Austin: Ilyana Rose Davila; Dallas: Jessi Shull; Baltimore: Sophie Page
TECH & CREATIVE TEAM
Director: Sarah Baczewski; Assistant Director & Stage Manager: Whitney Perez; Sound Design: Sarah Baczewsk; Lighting Design: Adam Ressa And Jaclyn Robertson; Board Operator: Fosse Thornton; Set Decor, Scenic & Property Design & Costumes: the Ensemble Of Actors; Photography: Sharon Kim; Logo Design: Raeanna Nicole Larson; Publicity & Graphics: Adam Ressa and Jaclyn Robertson; House Management: Joan Evans
