Who Is The Problem Child at Suburban Motel?

The first show in the cycle is Problem Child. It is the story of R.J., the television addicted ex-convict, and his ex-prostitute and ex-addict wife, Denise. They have come to the motel to await the arrival of Christine, their young child who has been taken from them and placed in a foster home. As the two characters battle each other and their inner demons, the social worker, Helen, arrives with some bad news about their daughter. It is obvious from her arrival that Helen doesn’t like Denise. Decisions are made, accidents happen, and clashes are had with the child in the middle.

The actors pulled this one off very well. I was happy to see Simon Webb kicking ass with an effortless performance as Phillie, the motel handyman. Marisa Smith bats this over the centre field wall as the ex-addict Denise and Sebastian Kroon walks a solid line with his television addicted performance as R.J. Bronwen Smith dominates with her performance as Helen -- the character who makes this play what it is.

Yes, I sound like a fan-boy, but let me tell you why. The actors had obviously worked hard to make this play work and, sure, there were a few flubbed lines but it was opening night. Actors get nervous. What pushed me over the edge from audience member into a raving fan was Sebastian Kroon. After the show, I was sitting in the lobby and he was standing nearby, chatting with the other actors. They were gabbing about the heat in the performance space but he then paused and said that it didn’t matter and how he wanted to run lines the following morning. it as a simple gesture that pointed to his professionalism. It won me over and made the whole experience real.

Anyone who has not seen George F. Walker before, Problem Child is a great introduction to the gritty feel that Suburban Motel exudes.