Water by the spoonful theatre 1041 ut

When this play begins, you think there are two very stories taking place.  One involves the Iraq veteran, Elliot and his successful cousin, Yasmin. Their world pressured by the illness of Elliot’s aunt and Elliot’s PTSD from the war.  The other world is  a collection of addicted individuals in varying stages of recovery chatting on line. That chat room is led by a supportive Odessa who is in recovery for a significant time period.  As the play progresses, you find the link…Odessa is the biological mom of Elliot.  A women so addicted that she allowed both Elliot and his younger sister to become so dehydrated even though doctors told the mom to provide “water by the spoonful,” that the sister died.  That mom instead went on a drug binge and theft those young children alone.

I find the play presents a valid reflection of people and their humanism…neither good or bad, but grey.  Here Odessa, the mom so neglectful that Elliot was removed and the younger child dead,  is also the motivating force holding so many in recovery alive.  Moreover Elliot a vet who fought for his country also may have killed an innocent man who only asked for his passport.  Additionally, there are the addicts who may seem successful but have their dark demons.  All the characters have their flaws.

The play ends with Odessa relapsing and the least likely addict, john, staying by her side.  Elliot works to forgive her but doesn’t exactly come to terms with his past.  I was left wondering what happened to them all.  I wanted to find out that it all worked out ok…..however, I was left not so sure.