What has the world come to and what has come of us?

It is a prevalent and thought provoking theme as Company One continues Kirsten Greenidge’s tech savvy comedy Morning Noon and Night, part of Company One’s 25^th season, live and in person at Boston Center for the Arts in Boston, Massachusetts through May 25.  The show is approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes with no intermission and has some adult language.  Tickets are available on a pay what you can basis.  Click here for more information and for tickets.  

Innovatively directed by Summer L. Williams, Company One Kirsten Greenidge’s Morning Noon and Night with Boston University’s College of Fine Arts unveils a world where children are mesmerized by their phones and selfies and time is measured a bit differently referring to pre-Covid days as ‘from before’ and a long time ago is at least ‘two phones ago’.

Set in Post 2020 pandemic and 2020’s endemic  with a dose of virtual reality,  Morning, Noon and Night explores loss, grief, fear, frustration, uncertainty, and a journey toward healing from economic turmoil after the pandemic has turned the world upside down.  This production also delves into escalating technology and consumerism in daily life where phone addicted children believe most of what they read on the internet, have increased social anxiety and angst, and the dangers of allowing technology to run your life and solve your problems.

If this sounds like a lot, Morning, Noon, and Night tries to do a lot and at times is a bit uneven in its storytelling getting weighed down by its own ambitions.  However, it is a touching and comedic piece that cuts through it all to reveal what is most important. It has a slick presentation blending Audrey Dube’s zippy sound design with Maria Servellón ‘s lustrous projections that  impressively portray the immaculate and too-good-to-be-true nature of the internet as well as beautiful memories.  It’s pristine, sparkling and deceptively perfect featuring colorful imagery likened to scrolling through a phone.  Amazon boxes, stacked CD’s and clothes strewn on the floor is part of Justin Lahue’s scattered and contemporary scenic design and the reality of Mia’s cluttered household.

 Kaili Y. Turner delivers a memorable performance as overwhelmed and stern Mia who is planning a birthday party for her estranged daughter, Alex.  Sydney Jackson depicts Mia’s excitable, anxious, and somewhat bossy daughter, Dailyn and Alex’s sister who is alarmed by the state of the world depicted on the internet.  Turner and Jackson make a relatable and comical mother and daughter duo as Dailyn pushes all the boundaries.  Both want Alex’s party to be perfect in their own way, and when Alexandria King as upbeat, orderly and mysterious Miss Candace unexpectedly shows up at Mia’s doorstep, life as they know it is about to change.

Greenidge’s clever dialogue lets the tech lingo fly especially from Dailyn and supportive friends Schanaya Barrows as sunny perfectionist Chloe and Aislinn Brophy as Nat as they navigate their way through school and family issues.  Eliza Fichter as energetic and meticulous Heather delivers some candid moments of hesitancy that anyone can relate to in this 2020 endemic world.

However, Alexandria King is wonderful as impeccably dressed and never flummoxed Miss Candace, particularly sharing physical comedic prowess with Turner as Mia.  They share an interesting dynamic and their interactions are evenly fun and intense.  King’s bright eyes, clipped laugh and powerful presence is fascinating to watch and Miss Candace’s outlook on life is one we can all take a lesson from.

Innovatively directed by Summer L. Williams, Company One continues Kirsten Greenidge’s tech savvy comedy of Morning Noon and Night, part of Company One’s 25^th season, live and in person at Boston Center for the Arts in Boston, Massachusetts through May 25.  The show is approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes with no intermission and has some adult language.  Tickets are available on a pay what you can basis.  Click here for more information and for tickets.