By Jody Tuso-Key; Managing Editor

I’m going to start this one right off by saying this is probably the best play I’ve seen in 2024. It may be because my life circumstances right now are at a point where I can relate to wedges being driven through a marriage. This story is about five very different women who come together to battle a singular cause: having to compete with their partner’s addiction to a multiplayer video game. simply called ‘The Game’. It begins with a married couple — Alyssa is a career-oriented woman whose 39 year-old husband, Homer, is addicted to ‘The Game’ and plays obsessively in the basement all day long. Homer is a biochemical engineer who quit his job and hasn’t moved from the couch to find employment. Out of desperation, Alyssa turns to social media to recruit a group of women in similar circumstances. She finds four women who are willing to meet at her house to concoct a plan to rescue their respective partners from the addiction. One tactic after another ensues including withholding sex, giving their husbands/partner a sense of purpose, and then dressing up in lingerie to lure them away from their electronic obsession.

I have a feeling the recent Microsoft Crowd Strike debauchle was helpful to a few of these real-life wives/partners for a few hours at least. I’m late on getting out this review as the IT glitch semmed to have affected this platform as well–but I digress. Playwright Bekah Brunstetter, who was recently nominated for a Tony award for her musical The Notebook, has hit this show out of the virtual park! She is in tune to topics that resonate with today’s audience and writes about serious subjects with outstanding humor and confounding empathy. Kudos to Horizon theater for securing this new work and giving it the hilarious voice it deserves by employing some of the best actors in Atlanta.

I’ll admit, this is my first Horizon show, and it’s been a long time coming. I’ve been promoting the theater for about 4 years now, but have never been to their quaint and quirky (in the best possible sense!) theater located in the Little Five Points Community Center AKA Little Five Points Center for Arts and Community. The location was formerly a school, and most recently The Wonder Years reboot was filmed in its hallowed halls. When you enter the building, it’s like you’ve stepped out of a time machine and into the past.

This intimate thrust style theater lends itself to immersive plays where the audience becomes a character in the stories that are told, which is the perfect setting for this production. All 6 characters are afforded a chance to tell the audience their stories, in beautifully written monologues. There is a character for everyone with which to identify: Alyssa (Jennifer Alice Acker) is a driven businesswoman who wants her husband back and is on the fence concerning starting a family; Homer (Chris Hecke) has traded corporate life for the virtual life and the friendships that online gaming affords. He is an amalgam of all the gaming spouses in the show; Myra (Shannon Eubanks) is an elderly woman who lost her husband three years ago but responded to the online appeal in order to make friends; Jen (Michelle Pokopac) is a war photographer and lesbian whose partner also plays the game, much to the surprise of the woman in the group (Alyssa spouts of a statistic that a percentage of women also play games on multiplayer platforms; Rhonda (Marcie Millard) is a fifty-something woman obsessed with fashion and the app Poshmark where she shops and trades (I looked up this app and was intrigued enough to try it–now I’m obsessed). Rhonda has a boisterous personality and frets as her husband doesn’t even seem to notice her; Cleo (Hope Clayborne) is a young military wife both nervously and excitedly expecting her first child. Surprisingly, each female character finds solace, self-discovery, and a bond through their escapades disguised as a book club that cements their friendship.

I want to say that collectively, this ensemble was the perfect blend of personalities, and if it weren’t fictional, a group that I would gladly be a part of. Alyssa’s leaderhship skills come in handy as she assembles the group and leads them through some side-splitting, seemingly thoroughly researched and fact-based yet emotion driven powerpoint presentations. Myra’s quirky wisdom mixed with a bit of senility and one-liners steal the show. Rhonda’s excitement about her fashion finds is infectious. Jen’s serious nature and firsthand accounts of war are grounded in reality. Finally, Cleo’s youth and sense of wonder and awe are endearing. Homer’s sense of humor makes him lovable, despite his addiction.

Let’s discuss the beautiful technical elements and direction of this show. First off, when I walk into a space in the ATL, I can usually spot the set design of Isabel and Moriah Curly-Clay. Their impeccible attention to detail once again painted a gorgeous palate for director Caroline Jane Davis and Co-Artistic/Prodicing Director Lisa Adler to paint a prophetic picture. The set was adorned with accoutraments carefully selected by Props Master Cori Williams, subtly illuminated by Lighting Designer Mary Parker, and given high-tech flair by Sound/Projection Designer Amy L. Levin. All these normally unsung technical geniuses add an artistic emotion and finesse to productions that is often taken for granted, but definately deserves honor.

I’d like to conclude this review by saying the entire cast and crew of this show deserve a full house and standing ovations for the remainder of this run, so take a break from all the musicals out there and come see this phenomenal play. It’s run is almost over so get your tickts at https://www.horizontheatre.com/plays/the-game/ ASAP!! This is an absolute Speakeysie must see!!

Thanks for your readership and peace be with you.