Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

The Mystery of Love and Sex at Diversionary Theatre

Go for a laugh

John W. Wells III and Rachael VanWormer
John W. Wells III and Rachael VanWormer

An exceptional cast, snappy writing, and polished production elements bring to life the complicated nature of interpersonal relationships between family and friends in Bathsheba Doran’s The Mystery of Love and Sex.

The Mystery of Love and Sex

The play follows four people: Charlotte, her parents Howard and Lucinda, and her best friend Jonny. We first meet them when Charlotte and Jonny live together in college. As their lives progress toward Charlotte’s wedding day we learn more and more. Charlotte and Jonny both struggle to understand their sexuality and how it affects their relationship. Lucinda and Howard maintain a marriage for the sake of their emotionally fragile daughter, which leads to substance abuse and resentment. Over many years and several confessions, ties between these individuals fracture and heal in ways that make their connections to each other different but stronger.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Rachael VanWormer plays emotionally volatile Charlotte with grace and confidence. While her physical portrayal of Charlotte at different ages sometimes appears forced, VanWormer bravely journeys the emotional arc of a girl struggling with everything from confronting her sexuality to dealing with the marital problems of her parents.

John W. Wells III charms as Jonny. His soft vocal delivery and modest physicality captures the essence of a boy confused and scared to confront truths. Wells indicates the aging of his character over many years through vocalized confidence reflective of his becoming a professor, which seems right for Jonny.

Marci Anne Wuebben shines as Southern-born Lucinda. Wuebben’s comic timing with both jokes and physical humor energizes the production from start to finish, which in turn highlights her moments of tenderness. She captures the essence of the modern mother: striving to provide happiness to her children, even at the expense of her own opinions and desires. If you need one reason to see this show, go for a laugh from Wuebben.

Mike Sears portrays the bombastic, often unlikeable father figure, Howard, who provides an abundance of conflict for those around him. Sears balances Howard’s middle-aged selfishness and with unwavering love for his family beautifully, to the point where the audience — just as the other characters — forgives his flaws.

This production exemplifies how well-thought-out design not only supports a production but also enhances it. Sean Fanning’s set design gradually builds in scale during Act One from literal and intimate to suggestive and expansive, then moves backward visually in the second half only to jump back to suggestive/expansive for the play’s conclusion: a stunning visual journey. Charming costumes by Elisa Benzoni allow us to see the aging of these people clearly and appropriately.

Bathsheba Doran’s sharp script provides relevance to important topics both contemporary and timeless, like love and sex. The Mystery of Love and Sex stands out as a refreshing burst of theatrical life not often witnessed, in San Diego or anywhere, and the team at Diversionary rises to the occasion to create an exceptionally entertaining and uplifting evening at the theater.

Playing through December 24

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Hip-hop artist Don Elway makes movies for his music

Not Ordinary EP tells a story of life on the streets
Next Article

Gilbert Castellanos, Buddha Trixie, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Shane Hall, Brian Jones Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival

Grand Socials, gigs, and record releases in Del Mar, City Heights, Solana Beach, Little Italy, and Ocean Beach
John W. Wells III and Rachael VanWormer
John W. Wells III and Rachael VanWormer

An exceptional cast, snappy writing, and polished production elements bring to life the complicated nature of interpersonal relationships between family and friends in Bathsheba Doran’s The Mystery of Love and Sex.

The Mystery of Love and Sex

The play follows four people: Charlotte, her parents Howard and Lucinda, and her best friend Jonny. We first meet them when Charlotte and Jonny live together in college. As their lives progress toward Charlotte’s wedding day we learn more and more. Charlotte and Jonny both struggle to understand their sexuality and how it affects their relationship. Lucinda and Howard maintain a marriage for the sake of their emotionally fragile daughter, which leads to substance abuse and resentment. Over many years and several confessions, ties between these individuals fracture and heal in ways that make their connections to each other different but stronger.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Rachael VanWormer plays emotionally volatile Charlotte with grace and confidence. While her physical portrayal of Charlotte at different ages sometimes appears forced, VanWormer bravely journeys the emotional arc of a girl struggling with everything from confronting her sexuality to dealing with the marital problems of her parents.

John W. Wells III charms as Jonny. His soft vocal delivery and modest physicality captures the essence of a boy confused and scared to confront truths. Wells indicates the aging of his character over many years through vocalized confidence reflective of his becoming a professor, which seems right for Jonny.

Marci Anne Wuebben shines as Southern-born Lucinda. Wuebben’s comic timing with both jokes and physical humor energizes the production from start to finish, which in turn highlights her moments of tenderness. She captures the essence of the modern mother: striving to provide happiness to her children, even at the expense of her own opinions and desires. If you need one reason to see this show, go for a laugh from Wuebben.

Mike Sears portrays the bombastic, often unlikeable father figure, Howard, who provides an abundance of conflict for those around him. Sears balances Howard’s middle-aged selfishness and with unwavering love for his family beautifully, to the point where the audience — just as the other characters — forgives his flaws.

This production exemplifies how well-thought-out design not only supports a production but also enhances it. Sean Fanning’s set design gradually builds in scale during Act One from literal and intimate to suggestive and expansive, then moves backward visually in the second half only to jump back to suggestive/expansive for the play’s conclusion: a stunning visual journey. Charming costumes by Elisa Benzoni allow us to see the aging of these people clearly and appropriately.

Bathsheba Doran’s sharp script provides relevance to important topics both contemporary and timeless, like love and sex. The Mystery of Love and Sex stands out as a refreshing burst of theatrical life not often witnessed, in San Diego or anywhere, and the team at Diversionary rises to the occasion to create an exceptionally entertaining and uplifting evening at the theater.

Playing through December 24

Comments
Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

India Hawthorne is common in coastal gardens, Citrus trees are in full bloom

The vernal equinox is on March 19
Next Article

Why Unified® Review: What To Expect Dropshipping (Positive & Negative)

Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.