ARTfactory is currently showing absurdist playwright Christopher Durang’s Beyond Therapy, a wacky play about two singles in search of a romantic connection. The cast of misfits includes Bruce, an oddly emotional bisexual man prone to bouts of weeping; Prudence, a woman with wide-sweeping prejudices and a repugnance to crying; two therapists who are as deeply troubled and dysfunctional as their clients; a live-in boyfriend with mommy issues; and an ex-convict waiter with a horrible work ethic. The chaos that ensues is a blend of mockery and social commentary on the deep flaws in modern courtship, the psychiatric profession, and the lengths to which lonely people will go to find a spark.
Lucas Webber’s set design is simple and effective, with separate areas representing different locations: Two therapist offices sit on opposite corners, a restaurant takes up the center of the stage with an entrance from a third corner, and the sitting room of Bruce’s home occupies the fourth. Along the outer edges of the space on all sides are two rows of chairs for the audience, creating an immersive, theater-in-the-round feel. Director David Johnson makes excellent use of this layout, playing to all four sides and utilizing nearly every inch of the space. He keeps the action of the work flowing fast, without ever letting the physical comedy become frenzied or overwhelming.
Portraying the desperate singles are Brendan Banner as Bruce and Serena Tovar Otis as Prudence. Brought together by a personal ad, the two initially come off as the most mismatched pair in the history of dating. But as their disastrous interactions continue, the couple realizes they don’t entirely hate one another and actually come to enjoy each other’s company. Their dynamic transforms into a surprisingly natural connection. Banner and Otis are incredibly fun to watch as they navigate the landscape of their burgeoning romance — one that defies all conventional logic and boundaries.
Between scenes of the unlikely couple’s dates are their individual therapy sessions, which prove no less bizarre and downright unhealthy. Prudence is seeing the ethically challenged Stuart (Timothy R. King), a toxic, aggressively macho man with an affinity for sleeping with his clients. King lays on the sleaze and rightfully makes Stuart a wholly unlikeable character, whose main purpose in the show serves for shock value and perhaps boosting the appeal of Bruce, by comparison.
Meanwhile, Bruce is treated by Charlotte (Nhea Durousseau), a scatterbrained eccentric who uses a stuffed Snoopy doll in her practice and frequently forgets the most basic vocabulary words. Durousseau portrays Charlotte with a charmingly deranged air that is endearing, and while her methods are unorthodox, they are not entirely unsuccessful. Where Stuart’s egocentric motivations fail, Charlotte leans in with genuine desire to help her patients. She is undeniably unhinged, but good intentions go a long way in this world.
Adding to the disorder of Bruce’s life is his fiercely jealous live-in lover, Bob (Shea Irvin). Irvin gives the overbearing momma’s boy Bob a sassy, injured puppy vibe that is a joy to watch in all his hot messiness. The mayhem ultimately reaches its peak at the restaurant, with gunshots and screaming that slowly evolves into a group therapy session, where an exasperated, perpetually unhelpful waiter (Topher Nichols) is caught in the crossfire.
Hilarity aside, author Durang’s text cuts surprisingly deep, featuring exaggerated personality types to satirize the pitfalls of dating, the 1980s pop-psychology craze, and the dangerous illusion that anyone — especially a therapist — holds the ultimate key to sanity. The overarching lesson is that relationships are inherently messy and normally abnormal. Ultimately, finding connection means accepting a mutual, imperfect “crazy” rather than waiting for clinical perfection.
One of my favorite quotes from Dr. Seuss sums this sentiment up nicely: “We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.”
ARTfactory’s Beyond Therapy is an enjoyable experience. The show maintains a brisk, steady pace and is packed from start to finish with comedic banter and jaw-dropping ridiculousness. It takes the audience through a steady stream of raucous laughter, mixed with shocked gasps, groans, and audible “oh no”s from the crowd. The performances are driving more for exaggerated comedy than for grounded realism, so you never fully escape into the material, but the sheer energy of the ensemble makes for an undeniably hilarious ride.
Running Time: Approximately two hours, with one 15-minute intermission.
Beyond Therapy plays through August 2, 2026, presented by the Actors Theatre at the ARTfactory, in the Wind River Theatre (third floor), 9419 Battle Street, Manassas, VA. Purchase tickets ($28.29 for adults, $22.94 for students and seniors, including fees) online or by calling (703) 330-2787.
Content Advisory: Beyond Therapy contains mature themes, adult language, sexual references, and situations intended for mature audiences. Audience discretion is advised.
Beyond Therapy
By Christopher Durang
CAST
Bruce: Brendan Banner; Prudence: Serena Tovar Otis; Stuart: Timothy R. King; Charlotte: Nhea Durousseau; Bob: Shea Irvin; Waiter: Topher Nichols
CREATIVE TEAM & CREW
Director: David Johnson; Stage Manager: Emma Huuges; Scenic Designer: Lucas Webber; Lighting Director: Matthew Sirocky; Sound Designer: Topher Nichols; Properties: Jean Tegtmeyer; Costume Design: Jenn Durham; Board Operator: Briyanna Moody; Producing Artistic Director: Kimberly Kemp
