“Goodnight Embryos” Chronicles Love’s Trials and Tribulations in Charleston
The stage was set in Charleston as Sadia Matthews and Teddi Lynette Thomas took the reins in a contemporary lesbian drama, “Goodnight Embryos”. The production, the first from the Charleston-based theater company, The Void, deftly wove together political nuance, interpersonal struggles, and love’s trials and tribulations during its premiere at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival.
The Story
“Goodnight Embryos” may have initially seemed like an exploration of queer politics and reproduction. However, as the plot thickened, it quickly morphed into a complex narrative of the ebbs and flows within a relationship. Spanning over a decade beginning in 2014, the play focused on the characters Em and Belle, portrayed proficiently by Matthews and Thomas.
Following a successful attempt at in-vitro fertilization which results in the conception of their son Rory, the couple grapples with the issue of what to do with the remaining five embryos. Their predicament is further complicated by work, stress, and strained relationship dynamics. An intricate sequence of emotionally charging scenes leaves you in a tug-of-war between empathizing with the couple as a unit and rooting for them as individuals.
The Setting
The unique element of “Goodnight Embryos” undoubtedly lies in its unconventional setting. Instead of the confines of a traditional stage, the audience and leading characters share the intimate space of Hed Hi Studios. Here, playwright Maureen McGranaghan invites the audience into Em and Belle’s kitchen, and by extension, their lives, making the audience an unwitting participant in an emotional roller coaster.
Time and Context
The passage of time in the story is artfully underlined by the interweaving of news commentary with instrumental music. The music and news stories reflect the years in which the play is set, providing a historical backdrop without inhibiting the dialogue. A fluctuating blue light further sets the mood of scene changes and further underscores America’s turbulent news cycle.
In essence, “Goodnight Embryos” takes on a historical sheen as it navigates through the nuances of pregnancy, loss, and the repercussions of a global pandemic.
The Revelation
While the struggle with queerness forms a part of the storyline, the play heavily hinges on the tumultuous journey of a relationship left untamed. From harboring intense affection at the onset to being buried under the weight of unresolved battles, the spark between Em and Belle gradually dissipates, leaving a void fill by Ariana Grande’s “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” as the curtain falls — a potent reminder of the many loves that fade away due to forced persistence.
The elaborate characterizations and plot intricacies of “Goodnight Embryos” renders it both painfully realistic and captivatingly beautiful. Its exploration of love’s trials and tribulations strikes a chord with every viewer, be it a reminiscent ex-lover, a current partner, or a hopeful future significant other.
