This minimally staged play has much to say about the people we meet during our most vulnerable moments.
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Slight spoilers for Gruesome Playground Injuries ahead.
There’s a new play coming to the local theater scene on the horizon, and what it lacks in production grandeur, it makes up for it with its story. Gruesome Playground Injuries, which was written by Rajiv Joseph and first staged Off-Broadway at the Second Stage Theater for a limited run in 2011, is coming to the Philippines this November courtesy of CAST PH. Directed by Nelsito Gomez, this adaption stars Topper Fabregas and Missy Maramara as Doug and Kayleen, respectively, and follows the two over 30 years as their lives intersect at the most bizarre intervals, leading the childhood friends to compare scars and the physical calamities that keep drawing them together.
We recently had the chance to catch an early preview of the show, and aside from the excellent performances of Fabregas and Maramara, what stood out to us was how small, and personal, the space was. All of the action is held in a square at the center of the stage bordered by benches. Inside this “playground” is where it happens, including the actors changing their clothes between scenes, as the play moves in intervals of five years per scene to showcase the development of Doug and Kayleen’s relationship.
Minimalist in its design but bold in its subject matter, Gruesome Playground Injuries has a lot to say about the company we keep and dealing with personal struggles that, while not being the easiest to address, are still worth bringing up. Here are some of the most poignant talking points we got from the play.
APOLOGIZE BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE
A key plot point in Gruesome Playground Injuries is how Doug and Kayleen seemingly can’t find the words to say what they really want to say to each other. This comes to a head at the play’s final act as Kayleen tries to rectify her relationship with Doug, to mixed success. Regret is a cruel thing to keep inside you, especially when the subject of your apology is no longer in this world. So, apologize and make amends when you can, especially if it’s about someone you hold close to your heart because it really can lift a weight off your shoulders.
UNADDRESSED TRAUMA AND ABUSE FOLLOW US INTO ADULTHOOD
Doug and Kayleen may be some of the unluckiest people in the world with how they’re always experiencing some form of injury or violence, both external and internal. But what’s more poignant is how the play focuses on those injuries that can’t just be healed by going to the hospital.
This is most seen in Kayleen’s story arc, as it slowly reveals the abuse and trauma she goes through starting from when she was a young girl. It’s these injuries that ruined her from the inside, leading to consequences felt into her adulthood. It’s yet another sobering reminder that being surrounded by a toxic environment does no good for you, even after you remove yourself from it.
THERE ARE FRIENDS MEANT ONLY DURING A CHAPTER OF OUR LIVES AND FOR A LIFETIME
Life has a funny way of working sometimes. Some people only enter your life for just a moment while others stay with you for decades. When it comes to Doug and Kayleen, they seem to vacillate between the two states. While they’ve known each other for thirty years, they only find each other when one (or both) experiences a traumatic injury or event.
But regardless of how wild their relationship is, they still reunite when they need each other the most. Whether they’re there for just a moment or a lifetime, friends enter your life for a reason, so cherish their presence and what they offer, because you never know where your life will go next.
KEEPING THINGS INSIDE ISN’T HEALTHY
It needs to be said that not talking about your feelings or not opening up your struggles to people you trust is not the vibe. Keeping all that inside is not a badge of honor, but a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. Gruesome Playground Injuries showcases this trap and its downsides, especially with Kayleen. From lying to Doug to trying to hide her struggles from him, she was a lowkey hot mess who realized too late that Doug only wanted what was best for her. So, find that safe space, and let it all out because it isn’t a slay to pretend you’re ok when you’re not.
WE SOMETIMES DON’T REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT CERTAIN PEOPLE ARE TO US
The amount of ups and downs that Doug and Kayleen go through is enough to populate an HBO mini-series. But in the duo’s many struggles and fights, we find the relatable feeling of wanting to push away people who actually care for you. Whether it be for pride or what have you, we sometimes tend to shun people who actually mean the most when we think about it. That much is true for Doug and Kayleen, and it just goes to show how understanding and proper communication will never go out of style.
AS UNBELIEVABLE AS IT MIGHT SEEM, THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO WILL UNDERSTAND YOU
Doug is no saint and has his fair share of problems, such as how his stunts seemingly put him on a quest to lose all his body parts, but if there’s one thing he’s good at, it’s being there for Kayleen. From when they were kids until adulthood, Doug was one of the few, sometimes the only one, who listened to, comforted, and defended Kayleen, and she reciprocated that a few times.
The journey of life can feel so lonely and isolating at times like you’re the “weird” one who nobody can understand. But there are people in this world who not only do but will still love you regardless. So don’t lose hope because someone cares about you.
Gruesome Playground Injuries runs from November 22-24, 29-30, and December 1 at The Mirror Studio Theatre, SJG Building, 5/F in Poblacion, Makati. Tickets are priced at 1,200 pesos and you can get yours now here. Also, a portion of the total ticket sales will be donated to Tahanan Sta. Luisa (TSL), a crisis intervention center for girls who have lived and suffered on the streets of Manila. TSL helps these girls recover from the trauma of abuse and exploitation through education, empowerment, and livelihood opportunities.
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