Stepmother & Stepdaughter's Unexpected Bond

0:00On March 6, a new play called, Evening All Afternoon, explores an unexpected bond between a stepmother and stepdaughter. Jennifer, played by Anastasia Hilly, finds lovely in life and marries John. She then has to connect with his early 20s daughter, Delilah, portrayed by Erin Kellyman in her stage debut. Delilah is outspoken and still mourning her Jamaican-born mother. Tensions rise as the two women clash over their differences. Jennifer, who cared for her own difficult mother for years, shows hidden strength. She secretly checks Delilah's emails and learns about troubles with a predatory lecturer and failing classes. Delilah drops out of university and moves in right before the COVID lockdown. Their relationship strains further when Delilah starts taking Jennifer's personal items. But amid the conflicts, they uncover shared experiences around grief and loss. The production is a two-hander with strong acting that brings out themes of connection across generations and cultures.

1:00Staging by De'N'Zora keeps things simple on a revolving set. In the end, it's a slow building story with the familiar arc but the emotional pull makes it worth watching.