“Tiny Beautiful Things” is a wonderful and intimate play that is sure to make you both laugh and cry. It is based on the book of the same name written by Cheryl Strayed. The book is an account of Strayed’s experience as the writer for the “Dear Sugar” advice column in The Rumpus literary magazine. The book is a collection of responses she wrote under the pseudonym “Sugar” and covers a range of topics, including help with relationships, traumatic events and the many times her writers wonder who she really is.
In the play, we see Sugar (Patty Brunnette) interacting with different letter writers (Craig Moeckly, Andrew Moua, and Allison Meuers) as if they were inside of her house with her. This physical proximity creates an incredibly intimate experience between Sugar and her writers. The audience is pulled into that intimacy, as well; instead of sitting in the tiers of theater seats, they sit on the stage, right in front of the actors. This allows the audience to hear and see all the subtleties in the performance. Whether it’s a character saying something under their breath or the crack of a soda can opening, you’re going to hear everything happening on that stage.
Craig Moeckly, Andrew Mous and Allison Meuers play all the different writers seeking advice. They move around the stage seamlessly changing characters, interacting with each other and getting snacks when they need them. Patty Brunnette holds everything together as Sugar, giving advice based on Cheryl Strayed’s life events.
The play doesn’t change much from the book. It simply adds to it by allowing us to see and hear Sugar and the people writing letters to her. It creates an empathetic experience, as Paul Aberasturi, the coordinator of the Theatre Department and director of the play, says in the playbill: “Empathy may be the key to a new acceptance of others, and it may stimulate an ability to resolve many of society’s (and our own) social and communication issues.”
“Tiny Beautiful Things” can go from heartache to hilarious in a matter of seconds. It’s free for all Century students and staff. The final performances are on March 28th and 29th at 7 PM and March 30th at 2 PM and 7 PM.
