Trash and treasures in ETC's 'The Garbologists'
By Noah Moore
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is known to impress with their sets, and as such, arriving and entering the theatre is almost magical. Yet with looming garbage bags piled up on stage next to two huge garbage trucks, the feeling was distinct. ETC's production of The Garbologists is a different kind of magic, one that grips you and doesn't let go, even amid dildo jokes (seriously). The heart and humor of this warm show were like a warm hug full from two beautifully-painted characters--oh, and it didn't smell like garbage.
The Garbologists by Lindsay Joelle tells the story of Marlowe and Danny, two sanitation truck workers on their daily garbage route in New York City. Marlowe, the Ivy League-educated, quietly grieving newbie, is no match for Danny's ennui and routine demeanor. The two clash over political correctness (in a rare non-cringey way), job technicalities, and responsibility, finding treasures among the trash. The raw grit of these workers is beautifully-realized by Joelle with a sneaky blend of rom-com dialogue and heavy-hitting narratives.
Directed by D. Lynne Myers, this production combined the best of ETC's technical arsenal with two of the region's most talented actors in Torie Wiggins and Nathan Neorr, as Marlowe and Danny respectively. They are foils to one another, but also complements, and the two have mastery over their distinct personas that somehow find common ground. Neorr's Jersey accent and Wiggins' trash-bag slinging were highlights of the zippy 90-minute production.
There is truly no parallel to the technical mastery on stage thanks to Trey Tatum's immersive sound design, Brian Mehring's vast yet intimate set, and Chris Lipstreu's moody lighting. Distant car horns blare as a wholly mobile truck front maneuvers around stage, and the setting feels lived-in and surreal. Becca Schall's projection designs enhance the storytelling in a sharp way, along with kudos to Shannon Rae Lutz's mountains of trash and hilarious stock of items by way of props.
Before the show opened, Myers remarked the timeliness of the piece, seeing as a Rumpke truck driver was recently killed in Cincinnati. Even without this context, the seldom-told story of a profession we respect yet honk at is interesting and unique. The story hits home with the local connection, and eventually changes your laughs to cries. The Garbologists runs through October 6 as the kick-off to a riveting season. Tickets are available at https://ensemblecincinnati.org/! And I must remark--ETC has never smelled better, despite the trash!
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