Point Loma

By: Darryl Reilly

Disembodied opening and slamming kitchen drawers, pictures flying off walls and ominous, blood red messages scrawled on household objects such as a toaster, all figure in playwright Tim Mulligan’s uproarious, contemporary paranormal mystery comedy, Point Loma. Laughs and thrills are plentiful. Mr. Mulligan’s exquisite command of dramatic writing, director Ken Wolf’s dazzling physical staging and the exuberant performances, all make this an exhilarating and purely entertaining experience.

An old, comatose San Diego man is dying of cancer in his house, he is tended to by a loquacious, imbibing female day nurse and a cheery, young gay male night nurse. These two caregivers contend with perpetual, jarring supernatural intrusions. The gay nurse’s long-time boyfriend contacts the intrepid podcasters of Ghosting, who arrive to investigate and hold a seance. Mulligan spins out his bouncy premise for ninety, giddy minutes through his buoyantly delineated characters, spouting his crafty dialogue.

With his lithe physicality, melodious voice and animated presence, Parker Jenkins is captivating as the night nurse. Delightfully in overdrive as his wily boyfriend, is the lively Ian Brady. Bubbly Jessica Luhmann is riotous as the wine drinking, and emotive day nurse. Laconic Jevon Nicholson, the alluring Michelle Park and comical Mathew Hernandez, vigorously play the squabbling podcast team. With his offbeat facial expressions, Dave Silberger is mostly silently hilarious as the ailing homeowner. Regal Patricia Griffith is a marvelously dry realtor. She, Chelsea Clark and Nathan Cusson, all make mirthful and spooky appearances as ghosts.

With Orson Welles-style auteurist brio, Mr. Wolf forcefully brings Mulligan’s vision to the stage. There are gorgeous tableaus, stunning stage pictures and precise placement of the actors, who periodically make striking entrances and exits through the venue’s rear area and the auditorium, and its front floor. Then there are the recurring, hooded cast members in swirling white robes depicting mischief making apparitions.

Wolf is credited as the production designer; every technical element of the presentation is accomplished. The white-accented kitchen set is an arresting environment, other rooms and locations are clearly indicated. The lighting design frenetically varies from stark brightness to eerie darkness, all accentuating the menacing illusions. Atmospheric incidental music and clanging effects are rendered by the sharp sound design. The performance under review was seamlessly overseen by stage manager Rebecca Batson, and adeptly realized by lighting and sound operator Verena Lee.

Topical, yet refreshingly devoid of presentday concerns, Point Loma welcomely relies on the narrative staples of comedy and horror to tell its twisty yarn.

Point Loma (through June 14, 2025)
Manhattan Repertory Theatre
www.manhattanrep.com
Chain Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, in Manhattan
For tickets, visit www.witchland.thundertix.com
Running time: 90 minutes with no intermission