By Ron Fassler . . .
Marin Ireland’s Pre-Existing Condition is based on a traumatizing real-life incident that happened to the acclaimed actress (now playwright). It deals with scars that proved difficult to heal after having been physically abused by a boyfriend. A 2024 production had a limited run at the tiny 60-seat upstairs space at the Connolly Theatre, with the lead role rotated every two weeks. Tatiana Maslany opened as “A,” followed by Deirdre O’Connell, Tavi Gevinson, Julia Chan, and its director, actress Maria Dizzia herself—all eclectically different in age, ethnicity, and personality types. The cast was rounded out by Greg Keller, Dael Orlandersmith, and Sarah Steele in a series of roles. Now Dizzia has assembled 3/4 of that cast in a new production at the 199-seat Greenwich House Theatre, where it opened tonight. Joining the team is Lupita Nyong’o as the first up to play “A,” with heavy-hitters on deck such as Phillipa Soo, Susannah Flood, Hari Neff, Edie Falco, and director Whitney White.
When we first meet “A” she is in an off-balance state between victimhood and rage. It has only been seven months since she was struck hard by a man she thought she loved. Thus begins a journey where she attempts to deal with a multitude of fears and anxieties. Through one-on-one therapy, group therapy, and some impossibly tough conversations with people who may not be helping as much as they think they are, we are brought into her challenging world and meant to experience it right along with her over its 70 minutes running time.
One of its chief problems is Ireland’s overreliance on psychological verbiage that proves awkward to organically weave into dialogue. It may come from over sympathizing with “A,” since the character is somewhat based on herself, and the phraseology employed here must have contributed to how Ireland forged her path to recovery. But a series of conversations and discussions are not enough to sustain a solid play. We never learn anything about what a pre-traumatized “A” was like, making the deliberate choice of employing no flashback scenes somewhat counterproductive. With so little knowledge of what sort of person “A” was like prior to the incident makes it harder to identify with how she can get back to being that person.
As director, Dizzia who, like Ireland, is better known as a superb actor, has a wonderful way with the ensemble. Keller, Orlandersmith, and Steele— veterans all—are terrific. Keller, increasingly reliable over the years to appear in at least one play every season, conveys with ease everything from a narcissistic mother to an uncaring lawyer to a caring friend. Orlandersmith, primarily a playwright, supplies proper gravitas as two different kinds of therapists, and Sarah Steele (always welcome, anytime) shows her ample versatility with one character who conveys copious amounts of warmth and sincerity as well as one tough enough to border on complete insensitivity.
As for Nyong’o, she is her usual radiant self, although dialed back as far as she can conceivably go. Dressed in an ill-fitting sweater which she at times uses to protect herself, she wears her emotions on her sleeve and manages the demanding task of never being maudlin or didactic.
The sad scenic design (in a good way) is supplied by Cate McCrea which depict a series of spaces that mostly are confined to what looks like a community room in a barren basement. Using stacked chairs that become seats at a café or a bench outdoors, it’s the actors who are responsible for making the settings believable, which they accomplish beautifully. Enver Chakartash’s costumes strike familiar tones, and the lighting design by Isabella Byrd, either harsh or forgiving when the moment calls for it, is perfect.
Ireland sincerely has her heart in the right place with Pre-Existing Condition, though she could use a bit more dramaturgy to assure that its message strikes harder. For now, this challenging drama plays with mixed results.
Pre-Existing Condition is at the Greenwich House Theatre, 27 Barrow Street, NYC, in a limited engagement now through. For ticket information, please click here.
Photos by Jessica Kourkounis.
Headline photo: Lupita Nyong’o and Greg Keller.
