Review: A Delightful Quarantine: A Play about a Homebound Town

A Delightful Quarantine: A Play about a Homebound Town by Mark Dunn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Delightful Quarantine: A Play about a Homebound Town

by Mark Dunn

92 pages

approx 2 hours performed

Published by Samuel French (first published November 1st 2012)

So let's say that an infectious disease sweeps across the planet. Suddenly there is a shortage of toilet paper and common sense. The government locks down its citizens tells them to wash their hands, don't touch their faces. Then says don't hang out in large groups. And finally says, stay home. All the while the leader of the free world is saying it is a hoax and no one will die. Oh and on top of that Hollywood stays home and all movie production stops. Theatres and restaurants are closed for indoor dining. People can no longer attend live concerts or worst yet, live plays.

No that was real life not this play. In fact, this play was written 8 years prior to the dumpster fire of 2020. But with that in mind, and all the social distancing and safety measures in place to help slow the spread of COVID-19, it's hard to do live theatre. Not so says Super-Director Tara Gallion of Lincoln Trail College theatre department. Tara searches the planet looking for a play that will not only make sense in this trying time but also we can perform while wearing masks and maintaining social distance as required by the state and yet still make sense with the performance. That's where this play comes in and I was grateful to be performing again live, albeit in front of a limited audience capacity.

So how does this play fit? Well according to the story, aliens have come to Earth and they want some of our soil. The problem is they leave behind a deadly disease that leaves seven separate households unexpectedly quarantined. Seven story lines are balanced as people are forced to confront their personal issues. A heart-warming original comedy/drama about how people react when there's nowhere else to go, which, in reality, is pretty much everyday on Earth.

Two families are on the verge of breaking up their marriages, one family has to deal with a cancer diagnosis, one house has a crazy cat lady and unseen cats, kids forced to be alone in an old lady's house, a daughter finds her birth mother after 32 years, and a pair of old ladies confront a burglar.

Each story has a touch of humor, some more than others, and a couple have some poignant, straight in your face this is life moments. All around the play has something to offer for all with maybe even a bit of slapstick that can always be fun.

I had a blast reading and performing in this play and I have a feeling Mark Dunn may get some extra royalties this year due to having written a nice play that is perfect for weird times.

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