In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) by Sarah Ruhl presented by The Majestic Theatre

In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) by Sarah Ruhl is delightfully written. The April 6, 2013 performance at The Majestic Theatre in Corvallis, Oregon offered laughs, serious moments, and a totally immersible experience! Directed by Pat Kight and beautifully acted by the cast, In the Next Room is definitely worth the price of admission. Set in the 1880s and exploring the use of the vibrator to treat hysteria, In the Next Room handles the clinical and the sensual with just the right dose of delicacy, seriousness, and humor in this enjoyable play. Andrew Beck plays the "man of science" with such conviction, I wished to shout at him to lighten up and enjoy life's pleasures more. The rest of the cast is also superb in their individual roles. While the entire play is fantastic, the scene that makes me smile every time I remember it is the one where Catherine Givings, played by Kimberly Gifford, and Sabrina Daldry, played by Kelley Marchbanks, are describing their experience with the "treatment" to Elizabeth played by Chelcye Chambers. I don't want to spoil it, so I'll just say their reaction to Elizabeth's reaction was perfection!!
My only complaint would be there were a few times during the first half of the play where the sound didn't resonate through the theatre as well as I would have liked. That seemed corrected in the second half of the play.
The set, costumes, and lighting provided just the right feel for the play and provided an authenticity I found refreshing. The two rooms visible to the audience with a clear divide between them complete with door that shut soundly offered the audience a true experience of witnessing what was "In the Next  Room".
The Majestic Theatre feels cozy and intimate, perfect for a play such as this. The lobby and welcoming area are bright and inviting with lovely paintings hanging about.
If you're in the Corvallis area, I'd highly recommend checking out this production of In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) before it ends! It's playing from April 5-14, 2013.

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