If/Then, a play that explores one woman’s two possible futures, strives to answer the question everyone has asked at one point in their life: 'What if?'
If/Then is not your classic boy meets girl, sings a soft ballad and falls in love kind of play. Laced with vulgarities, confronting both the beautiful and the repugnant moments that make up a life, the show acts as a quintessential piece of modern art.
And it’s coming to Plant City.
Not Your Normal Entertainment (NYNE) Productions is a new community theater group in Eastern Hillsborough
County. They focus on bringing more adult themed shows to the area to fill a hole that most community theaters leave untouched.
On March 10, the group will be performing the first show of its run at Plant City Entertainment. Joe Scarbrough, the director and conductor of NYNE, said he is looking forward to being able to bring this type of entertainment to Plant City. It’s raw, it’s real and it explores issues often left undiscussed.
“I have a lot of respect for Plant City Entertainment, I think they run an extremely efficient community theater and they have a great space to work in,” Scarbrough said. “The fact that they know what we go through… We’re not competition with them at all because we do completely different styles of shows.”
The play follows the story of Elizabeth Vaughan, a recently divorced, former college professor of urban design who has just arrived in Manhattan to start a new life. It opens with Vaughan, who is at Madison Square Park when her phone rings.
Does she take the call? Though it seems like a minuscule decision at the time, her choice will drastically alter her future. The audience is given a gift. They see the repercussions of both options unfold before their eyes.
Everyone has had a moment where they’ve wondered “What if?”
If/Then dives into that universal enigma. It acts as a salve for the hollow ache one acquires from being haunted by a life you’ve never lived.
Elizabeth splits into two people, Beth and Liz. Beth takes the call and begins a path toward developing a powerful career. Liz, who wears glasses to distinguish her from her counterpart, let’s her phone ring and runs into Josh, an Army doctor who just completed a tour overseas. Her path is toward an exciting and often chaotic romance.
Though it may seem confusing, red or blue stage lights and the presence of Liz’s glasses help differentiate which storyline the audience is currently watching.
Her small decision in the park sparks a domino effect for both storylines. Each feature love and heartbreak. Each has equally valid existences. This production also adds a unique layer to the show in its casting. Elizabeth and Josh are played by Randy Magruder and Tracey Magruder, who are married in real life.
When Elizabeth and Josh fall in love, fight, suffer unspeakable loss and juggle with the reality of having a son, another aspect the couple shares with their characters, the emotions barrel through the fourth wall, demolishing the thin barrier between the audience and the actors.
“There are certain songs I’ve yet to sing without crying,” Tracey Magruder said. “In a way, it’s been easy because of all of these similarities between Randy and I and our characters. On the other hand, it’s been very emotional. The cast has only seen me sing ‘I Hate You’ a few times but they still break up every time I do it.”
Her husband was briefly mentored by James Snyder, who originated the role of Josh on Broadway, on how to use
Josh to support Elizabeth. Randy Magruder said while being vocally coached by Snyder he sang “You Never Know” and felt like his “knees were going to collapse.”
“The ‘I Hate You’ song that Elizabeth sings to Josh, it’s why I got into theater,” Randy Magruder said. “There’s a whole argument there that’s not being heard or said. When we do the fights it’s very dramatic, but it’s just such good music.”
The music itself is another unique choice for NYNE. Rather than use a prerecorded soundtrack, which Scarbrough calls “glorified karaoke,” the troupe is bringing along a live orchestra. Using all local actors and musicians allows the show to breathe in a way a traveling company often can’t. They’re invested in this community and that dedication is a driving factor in the art they choose to produce.
If/Then’s central theme is love. Whether it’s between Elizabeth and Josh, Kate and Anne, Lucas and David, or even through the friendships that grow and blossom throughout the show, love is the undercurrent of every decision.
“It asks questions that everybody has asked of themselves,” Scarbrough said. “‘What if I had done this instead? What would my life be like?’ Not only that, but it depicts the LGBT community as normal, everyday people that have normal, everyday jobs and lives. I thought that was a pretty important thing to bring to this area.”
The cast is diverse, the plot tackles ubiquitous issues and when the curtain falls, viewers will hopefully walk away with a new appreciation for the lives they’re choosing to lead. It’s no wonder opening night is nearly sold out.
“Don’t ask yourself ‘What if?’ Take the leap of faith, give the show a shot, give us a shot, don’t be in a position where you’re going to regret not seeing the show,” Scarbrough said. “It truly is not your normal entertainment.”
