Theatre Review: ‘The Realistic Joneses’ at Spooky Action Theater

Posted by Mary Ann Johson
MD Theatre Guide

People can be fragile. Marriages can be fragile. Life is fragile. These are the themes of this multi-layered lovely little work about two couples who happen to be named Jones. One couple are lifelong residents of the small town where they live and work; the other couple have just moved there—ostensibly because they wanted to live in a small town with a sense of community.

It’s not that simple. Bob, deep in denial and self-ignorance, has a serious, degenerative medical condition. His wife, Jennifer, is a practical lady who believes in knowing as much information as possible and manages her husband’s illness and their lives. The new neighbors, John and Pony Jones, have a secret. It turns out that John has the same illness and may be keeping it from his wife to protect her.

Over the course of a few weeks, the couples meet individually and as couples. Their interactions are full of misunderstandings and connections, often both at the same time. Both couples are isolated and yet drawn to each other. As played by the four actors, their interactions are so believable it makes you ache for the fumbling efforts of humans in general to connect.

READ MORE