Theatre West presents the world premiere of Walking in Space. Written by Garry Michael Kluger. Directed by Arden Teresa Lewis. Meg Lin produces for Theatre West.

Is drug addiction a moral failure or a brain disease? A debatable topic for sure. Current scientific studies are underway to have a better understanding of the brain circuits involved in rewards, stress, and self-control, and the environmental factors—family, school, and neighborhood—that might lead or predispose a person to addiction. In Walking in Space, playwright Garry Michael Kluger goes back to 1972 and takes from his own family history to present a story, part real, part fiction, where the collateral damage of addiction weighs on four siblings who are left alone to deal with their mom’s abuse of Placidyl, a sedative-hypnotic medication prescribed to treat insomnia.

In the story, Lori (Liv Denevi), a 17-year-old, is in charge of taking care of her mom Francine (Kathie Barnes), a divorcée who has become addicted to barbiturates. To check on their mom after a fall, the other three siblings come to visit. The oldest is Patti (Mary Elisabeth Somers), a young woman who is trying to keep her professional and love life afloat while still looking after her mom and younger siblings. Next in line is Kirby (Cecil Jennings), a recent grad who is at risk of losing his new job due to his mom’s addiction. There is also Matthew (Hogan Mason), a college sophomore who has a special connection with Francine and is the one that talks her into going to the hospital to treat her addiction problem. Also in the picture is Dr. Jerome Collar (David Mingrino), the family physician who comes up with the recovery plan. And lastly, there’s Keith (Andrew Cereghino), a medical resident who is trying to convince Patti to stay together once and for all.

Even though it deals with harsh realities, the play presents the thorny issue of addiction with a good dose of humor. Director Arden Teresa Lewis allows the characters to explore their most vulnerable spots and find places to build up the strength to thrive under negative circumstances. In this case, humor, as light as it might seem at times, is a critical mechanism to survive.

Through Francine’s exposition, we learn that her upbringing was a difficult one, forced to grow up very early to become a housewife. A different era, a different mindset. It is here where the environments play a decisive role in predisposing someone to a life of addiction. For Francine, drugs became an escape from her world of limited possibilities. Again and again, escape seems to be a determining factor to fall into the downward spiral of addiction. In Kluger’s own words, “it’s always the same, no matter the drugs”. The underlying issues are always the same.

As more families face the daunting challenges of drug addiction, Kluger tells us that it is OK to feel tired, frustrated, emotionally drained, and hopeless. As the characters show, whether an intervention is successful or not, sometimes family members feel guilty, leading them to think that they’re not doing enough to save the loved one. And that is one of the most valuable takeaways from Walking in Space: It is OK to feel that way. It is part of the recovery and healing process. Patience and sacrifice are just part of the game.   

The result of Kluger and Lewis’ work with the actors is an entertaining and touching production that gives a sense of hope for whoever is dealing with similar issues. No matter how difficult the situation might be, there’s always something positive that comes out of such a dark place. In the case of the four siblings, the ordeal they been put through makes them grow more united and builds their strengths to face life as adults. Their interdependency creates an unbreakable bond that transcends their mom’s addiction. They know that they have each other’s back, no matter the issue, no matter the distance. At the end, “it was just us.” 

Walking in Space

Theatre West
3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West
Los Angeles, CA 90068
(across the street from Universal CityWalk, between Barham and Lankershim)

September 8 – October 8:
• Fridays at 8 p.m.: Sept. 8, Sept. 15, Sept. 22, Sept. 29*; Oct. 6
• Saturdays at 8 p.m.: Sept. 16, Sept. 23, Sept. 30; Oct. 7
• Sundays at 2 p.m.: , Sept. 17, Sept. 24, Oct. 1**; Oct. 8
*ASL interpreted performance on Friday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m.
**Sensory-friendly performance on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 2 p.m.

Tickets: theatrewest.org

Written by Garry Michael Kluger. Directed by Arden Teresa Lewis. Starring Kathie Barnes, Andrew Cereghino, Liv Denevi, Cecil Jennings, Hogan Mason, David Mingrino, and Mary Elisabeth Somers. Presented by Theatre West. Creative team: Scenic designer Ernest McDaniel and lighting designer Malcolm Wilson. In addition to directing, Lewis takes on costume design. The assistant director is Amelia Vargas and the production stage manager is Dillon Mount. Meg Lin produces for Theatre West. Walking in Space is supported by the L.A. County Department of Arts and Culture as part of Creative Recovery L.A., an initiative funded by the American Rescue Plan.