Theater review: Oblivion - premiere of a thought provoking, emotionally raw play

Spotlight on Local Playwrights: Oblivion by Paul Lewis

Reviewed by Victoria Gilleland

It isn't often we witness the birth of anything these days. But Driftwood Players' current production, Oblivion, provides the audience with an opportunity to enjoy the premier of a thought provoking play by local playwright, Paul Lewis.

Oblivion has evolved from a Ten Minute Play first performed in 2013 to a fully staged 90 minute production at Wade James Theater in Edmonds. The acting is top notch and the production well done.

Giselle, the main character in our story, has returned to Montevideo, Uruguay in search of the tango instructor with whom she fell in love some 30 years earlier. The story is set in the real world of 1980s South America. In 1983 when she first visited, Uruguay was a place of unrest ... but what was Giselle’s perception then and what was the reality for her and the people she met at that time?  The complex mental and emotional lives of the characters are explored.  

The characters are so real and the emotions so raw that the audience is soon pulled into the drama. Every question posed by one of the characters resonates with the audience. We can identify with these people ... We all have strengths and weaknesses.   

Playwright Paul Lewis has previously written Musicals, a Children’s Opera and a number of Ten Minute Plays of which Oblivion was one. His musical The Hours of Life premieres this December in Seattle. Mr. Lewis is a very creative and talented writer who has much to contribute to the world of theatre. We're fortunate to have him here in the Northwest! 

Performances are at the Wade James Theatre, 950 Main St Edmonds

All tickets are $15.00. 

Purchase tickets online or by phone 425-774-9600 option 3.

If you like the concept of the Ten Minute Play you won't want to miss this year’s 6th Annual Festival of Shorts, July 10 -12, 2015 at Edmonds Driftwood Players. The 2015 theme is Perspective. This is an opportunity to see eight Ten Minute Plays that have not been produced previously and to support our lively Northwest Theatre scene in the process.