by Laura Ring Special to the Ojai Valley News
Neale Donald Walsch might have come up with the notion that “life begins at the end of your comfort zone,” but playwright Peter Quilter demonstrates how it’s done in “Just the Ticket,” now playing at the Ojai Art Center Theater through Sept. 4.
In Peter Quilter’s one-woman play, Ojai actress Lynn Van Emmerik stars as Susan, a quirky 60-year-old who decides to celebrate her birthday by repeating a trip to Australia she took with her best friends when she was 20. Only now, she’s going solo. Susan is endlessly chatty and accident-prone, which adds to her charm. A hint of sadness in Susan, however, offers the audience a deeper look into her life.
The woman who allows us to connect with Susan is the well-versed and extremely talented Van Emmerik, who carries the show impeccably through her cadence in funny, vulnerable and wonderfully physical moments.
Award-winning director Tom Eubanks has created an intimate connection between audience and performer. The minimalist set and targeted lighting design allow the character to become the focus. Set changes are seamless under the direction of stage manager Dyane Landis and assistant stage manager Paisley Reynolds. Sound design by Steve Grumette, as well as choreography by Anna Kotola, add to the funniest moments in the show. Vivien Latham, as the airport announcer, lends her distinct voice and comic timing.
The production is a perfect post-pandemic treat not to be missed. “Just the Ticket” is at the Ojai Art Center Theater, 113 S. Montgomery St., at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 4. For tickets or information, call 805-640-8797.