By Crystal Hayduk
Are freedom and prison defined merely by which side of a threshold one resides on? Freedom isn’t free, but what price is too high? Does independence mean answering to nobody? As difficult as these topics are for people to dissect, perhaps animals ponder them, too. And, we can even find humor in the debate.
Last Saturday (Independence Day weekend, as chance would have it), a friend and I went to Purple Rose to see the final play of their 2024-25 season, “Bert & Trixie Visit the Vet.” The world premiere by Matt Letscher is a comedy about four animals in a veterinarian’s waiting room who plan a grand escape when one of them may be in danger.
The set is a pristine veterinarian’s office. The cat tree gets a lot of use by “Bitchy,” the rescued feral cat played by Mark Colson. Because I am not a fan of heights, I was especially impressed by the feline-like ease with which Colson scaled the tree.
John Seibert, who played the wise old parrot, Leonard, spent a large part of the performance interacting with the other characters from his perch in his reimagined cage. He’s lived at the practice for decades and has observed the disappearance of pets who go to “the way back.”
Female owner (Meghan VanArsdalen) brings Bert (Jonathan West) and Trixie (Jamie Elvey) to the vet for shots and check-ups. Bert and Trixie are golden retriever littermates who were first adopted as young pups by the male owner, a character we only hear about.
The vet tech (or “nurse” as the animals identify her) is played by Maria Ru-djen.
Under the direction of Rhiannon Ragland, the actors playing animals performed their roles with keen insight into animal behavior. The anthropomorphism and spot-on animal behaviors were hilarious.
VanArsdalen portrayed the owner empathetically, with a wide range of emotion that clearly showed her growth throughout a singular vet visit.
Ru-djen’s performance was good for laughs. Her oversharing and inappropriateness exemplified someone many of us know, while wondering how they remain employed. She is an extreme stereotype of the kind of person who chooses to work with animals instead of people.
Clever lighting techniques emphasized whose communication to focus on. Animals spoke with animals. Humans spoke with humans. Humans spoke to animals and animals spoke to humans, but they couldn’t understand each other’s words. Letscher’s omniscient point-of-view allows the audience to understand all the on-stage communication.
Sound effects magnified the slapstick comedy on the stage. One particularly riotous scene that played out in slow motion had audience members doubled over in laughter. (But I won’t spoil your fun by giving too much away here.)
The animals’ costumes were a source of humor and wonder. My personal favorite was Leonard’s. Designer Shelby Newport used everyday clothing and accessories to create a flamboyant and memorable parrot costume.
Letscher has masterfully written an unusual play that contains the critical elements of a great story. It speaks to the heart and mind through laughter—and possibly a few tears.
Full disclosure: In my adult life, I’ve been “Mom” to four dogs. In Nov. 2022, our fourth fur baby was diagnosed with metastatic malignancy; she died a month later. I haven’t truly recovered from her loss even now, two and a half years later.
I didn’t plan to see “Bert and Trixie.” In addition to schedule challenges, I was afraid it would rip at the tender scab on my heart, pushing me into melancholy.
However, between the buzz on social media, Lisa Allmendinger requesting me to review it, and my dog-loving friend agreeing to go with me, I found time to attend.
And I am very glad I did. Memories and laughter are healing.
Visit here to learn about special animal adoption opportunities at the theatre.
Note: Contains adult content and may not be suitable for children under 13 years old. Water-based haze is used for atmospheric effects during the performance. The play runs about 80 minutes without intermission.
Bert & Trixie Visit the Vet
What: World premiere comedy written by award-winning playwright Matt Letscher
When: Now playing through Aug. 31; seven performances a week – evenings and matinees. See schedule here.
Where: The Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park Street, Chelsea
Director: Rhiannon Ragland
Cast: Mark Colson, Jamie Elvey, Maria Ru-djen, John Seibert, Meghan VanArsdalen, and Jonathan West
Designers: Set by Sarah Pearline, costumes by Shelby Newport, lighting by Noele Stollmack, sound by Brad Phillips, and properties by Danna Segrest
Stage manager: Stefanie Din; assisted by Jennifer Lowe and Mary Toth
Managing director: Katie Hubbard
Tickets: Available online or by calling the box office at 734-433-7673. Special discounts for seniors, patrons 30 years or younger, and groups (12+). Call the box office for military and teacher discounts.
About the Purple Rose Theatre Company: Founded in 1991 by actor, playwright, musician and Chelsea native Jeff Daniels, the non-profit Purple Rose Theatre Company “… is a professional theatre company with roots in the Midwest that takes a handcrafted, artisanal approach to producing new and classic American plays that are nothing less than one-of-a-kind experiences.” (The Purple Rose Theatre Company)
