Tech Support – We All Need it for Different Reasons

2020. Technophobe Pamela Stark (Margot White) is having the kind of day where her husband sends divorce papers over a SmartPhone and the printer emits only red type. At the end of her tether, she finally connects to Chip at tech support (on speaker). Following endless prompts, the heroine ends up successively in 1916, 1946, 1978 …Cue dizzy turns and wide eyes. In each era, she meets some of the same people: Charlie/Joe/Biff- Mark Lotito, Chip-Ryan Avalos, Maisie/Lupe – Leanne Cabrera, Grace/Tori – Lauriel Friedman.

Margot White (Pamela Stark), Mark Lotito, Leanne Cabrera, Ryan Avalos, Laurel Friedman

Pamela has lost her sense of self worth, pride as a woman, and belief in love, all of which playwright Debra Whitfield resolves in shorthand human relations, intermittent purpose, acknowledgment of women’s rights, and burgeoning affection.

There are bright spots, but the play is riddled with clichés, telegraphing every situation and character. Supposedly a smart dealer in antique books, Pamela can’t seem to stop using 21st Century vernacular no matter how many times she confuses people and is reminded. She’s inordinately praised as a fixer for noticing temperature control on an old toaster and releasing the lid of a plastic bowl. These incidents are as patently absurd as taking credit for asking whether a non-working machine is plugged in.

The first Chip’s phone attitude and dialogue, as well as various appliance-spewing prompts, are clever. Veteran Mark Lotito creates sympathy and adds ballast as does new-to-me Lauriel Friedman. Ryan Avalos can be appealingly ingenuous. Leanne Cabrera has credible moments of upset.

Margot White, Mark Lotito

Unfortunately Margot White (Pamela) overacts, though she improves as the story evolves. This could, of course, be direction. The author/director is too close to her play to create something original beyond words.

Natalie Taylor Hart’s ugly scenic design looks as if it was left by the last unknown production. Nothing of the stucco textured walls and arches evokes a Beekman Place apartment. What’s supposed to indicate circuitry just appears silly. Pam’s printer and telephone are pointedly outdated; a gramophone and 1940s radio serves well.(Cyrus Newitt – props)

Elliott Forrest’s OOO-EEE, period projection design does the required job.
Costumes by Janice O’Donnell are spot on.

Photos by Russ Rowland

Chatillion Stage Company presents
Tech Support
Written and Directed by Debra Whitfield
59E59 Theaters
Through September 21, 2019

About Alix Cohen (1706 Articles)
Alix Cohen is the recipient of ten New York Press Club Awards for work published on this venue. Her writing history began with poetry, segued into lyrics and took a commercial detour while holding executive positions in product development, merchandising, and design. A cultural sponge, she now turns her diverse personal and professional background to authoring pieces about culture/the arts with particular interest in artists/performers and entrepreneurs. Theater, music, art/design are lifelong areas of study and passion. She is a voting member of Drama Desk and Drama League. Alix’s professional experience in women’s fashion fuels writing in that area. Besides Woman Around Town, the journalist writes for Cabaret Scenes, Broadway World, TheaterLife, and Theater Pizzazz. Additional pieces have been published by The New York Post, The National Observer’s Playground Magazine, Pasadena Magazine, Times Square Chronicles, and ifashionnetwork. She lives in Manhattan. Of course.