What happens when teachers and students cross the line and enter into a friendship that moves from the classroom into the teacher’s home?
‘The Sound Inside’ stars Amy Brenneman (Judging Amy, Private Practice, HBO’s The Leftovers, The Old Man) as “Bella Lee Baird” and Anders Keith (Frasier: Revival) as “Christopher Dunn” in Adam Rapp’s thrilling Tony-nominated drama which is directed by acclaimed director Cameron Watson.
Bella is a professor at Yale University and narrates her experience of losing her mother to cancer and her own cancer diagnosis shortly after her death. Enter Christopher Dunn. A quiet, mysterious student who is taking her writing class during the Fall semester.
They bond over their love of books and their authors while Christopher is seeking her guidance as he sets out to write his own novella.
As Fall turns to winter, and snow begins to fall, their friendship moves out of the classroom…and they meet over dinner and ultimately ending at Bella’s home. As she fights to accept her cancer diagnosis will not get better, she decides to end her life and seeks Christopher’s assistance.
The audience is mesmerized by a sleek set design that seamlessly transitions from classroom, local bar to Bella’s home thanks to the creative team of Tesshi Nakagawa (scenic design) and Jared A. Sayeg (lighting design). Rounding out the team are Danyele E. Thomas (costume design), Jeff Gardner (sound design), and Danyele E. Thomas (costume design).
I am not a literary buff so I was unfamiliar with many of the names that drew enthusiastic applause from members of the audience but I can say that Rapp did an amazing job on the script and Watson did his job bringing out the best in Brenneman and Keith which kept the audience engaged during the nearly 90 minute performance.
The audience can relate to the theme of the play as many of us have experienced relationships that may not be ideal but are overpowered by connections through shared interests that transcend age, ethnicity and race.
Bella and Christopher needed to connect with each other, in more ways than one.
‘The Sound Inside’ is playing at the Pasadena Playhouse through Oct. 1. Performances are scheduled Wednesday-Friday evenings at 8:00 p.m, Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and Sunday’s at 2:00 p.m. You can purchase tickets online at pasadenaplayhouse.org or at the Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101.
