One of the keys to being an effective critic is recognizing when material just isn’t made for me. I can see the value in a film or piece of theater but also acknowledge I did not personally love it for a variety of reasons. Such is my feeling coming out of the new original play, Sunny in the Dark, at Salt Lake Acting Company. It is well done and definitely has its audience but it is not something that I personally loved.

Let’s start with the positives. Playwright Elaine Jarvik has captured the voice of a teenager well and her frustration with being told half-truths and flat out lies is understandable. CoCo May Berwald is believable as Sunny, and I particularly enjoyed her scenes with her imaginary dads (played with gleeful enthusiasm by Matthew Ivan Bennett and Jason Andrew Hackney). Their interactions are funny and unpredictable which was a refreshing jolt to the narrative. I also particularly found her chemistry with step-dad Tom played by Paul Mulder to be warm and believable.

Where the play worked less effectively is anything involving a political consultant character named AJ played by Micki Martinez. I realize the character is supposed to be grating and over-the-top but a little of that goes a long way, and I grew weary of it quite quickly. I also don’t believe such scheming would be required for a local school board election. Mayor or even a state representative would have been more believable. Also even though I was sympathetic of what Sunny is going through her ranting and raving (even on social media) about her mother was exhausting and the lessons gained from the situation not that insightful.

Alexandra Harbold is believable as the mom Elise, and and I’m sure moms of teens will relate to her struggles. Director Marion Markham gets the most out of her actors and keeps the staging relatively simple. The different dads are brought in on a swing which is a fun detail and there is a disco ball used to create constellations that is a whimsical choice. Also, nothing gets too heavy which is a feat considering topics like abortion and child rearing are discussed.

If you have a teen than I think Sunny in the Dark is worth seeking out and supporting. All of the elements are well done and it is likely to spark a lot of helpful conversations in families. It just had some elements I find irritating and in particular the political consultant character that was too much for me to enjoy the experience. It is playing at SLAC through March 1st and tickets can be purchased here.

Sunny in the Dark is a world premiere by playwright Elaine Jarvik. It is 90 minutes with no intermission. There is some profanity for those concerned about that.

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