UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – Diversionary Theatre is concluding its 39th season with “Merry Me,” a play written by Hansol Jung with impeccable direction by Vanessa Stalling, who is making her Diversionary debut.
The sapphic sex farce has already been extended through June 15.
South Korean playwright Jung has had her work shown in San Diego before, including “Cardboard Piano” at Diversionary and “Wild Goose Dreams” at La Jolla Playhouse. She returns with a comedy on female pleasure as a military outpost on the verge of invading a neighboring nation experiences a mysterious blackout where all electronic devices except vibrators stop working.
In need of distraction, the camp is overrun with sexual hijinks while celestial powers use the blackout as a social experiment to save humanity with the help of psychologist Dr. Jess O’Nope (Andréa Agosto).
The dialogue-drenched production features the biggest ensemble cast of Diversionary’s season, after the sentimental musical “Midnight at the Never Get” and family drama “we are continuous” had tight casts of three actors each.
After a cameo in “Midnight at the Never Get,” Troy Tinker-Elliot returned with a bigger role as the impotent General Aga Memnon, frustrated after Lt. Shane Horne (Winnie Beasley) has her merry way with all the camp’s women, including his wife Mrs. Clytemnestra Memnon (Jacquelyn Ritz).
His son, overgrown man child Pvt. Willy Memnon (Coleman Ray Clark), is also camped with his new wife Mrs. Sapph Memnon (Mak Shealy) who is tempted away from the strictures of a marriage for status by the alluring Horne. Orchestrating the chaos and making sure the women find sexual liberation, The Angel (Michael Amira Temple) is a full-time true star and part-time DJ.
Characters might be trapped on an island away but they cannot escape reality
“Merry Me” might be the lightest fare of the season, yet it still satirizes conversion therapy, the orgasm gap, marital roles, nepotism, toxic masculinity, and female rage. The characters might be trapped on an island away but they cannot escape reality.
The play shares much in common with “The Country Wife,” once considered the most lewd play in the English language, with a lesbian camp rewrite. The restoration comedy is replete with convoluted plots, witty repartee, satirizing archetypes, cross-dressing and sexual jokes.
The creative team includes Mathys Herbert in scenic design, Claire Peterson in costume design, Annelise Salazar in lighting design, Padra Crisafulli as composer and sound design, Kristen Flores in props designer, Jesse Marchese as production dramaturg, and Shannon Humiston as stage manager.
For the first time, all Diversionary evening shows from Thursday through Sunday will be at 7 p.m. with Sunday matineé performances remaining at 2 p.m.
Diversionary Theatre is at 4545 Park Blvd.
Park BoulevardFind tickets, including military and industry discounts, at diversionary.org, or call the box office at (619) 220-0097.
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