Funny, crass, honest, nostalgic, and moving… The Bedwetter, the musical based on Sarah Silverman’s bestselling memoir, is all of those things — in the very best ways. And it’s superbly performed by a brilliant cast on top of that.
The show begins with a 10-year-old Sarah bringing (and singing) us up to speed on her current life. Her parents have just divorced, she’s moved to a new town, she’s starting a new school, and she’s surprisingly cheerful about all of the transitions. She’s a bit of an oddball, but knows and embraces it, which makes her endearing to people around her, including new friends at school.
We also learn early on that her father is quite the ladies’ man, her mother can’t muster the energy to leave the bed, her grandmother enjoys a good cocktail — all day long, her sister doesn’t want her popular friends to see them together, and Sarah is hiding an embarrassing secret: she is a bedwetter. Despite all of that, her optimism and enthusiasm are not deterred.
Photo courtesy of Arena Stage
That is, until her friends discover her secret, and everything begins to unravel. This is where the show, and Sarah’s story, begin to navigate heavier subjects — of mental health, loss, grief, and the rollercoastering emotions of adolescence — and it does so with sensitivity, while still maintaining a comedic edge.
It’s all carried out perfectly by a cast of characters that are as charming as they are talented. Really, everyone played their parts so well, though Sarah was a definite stand-out. I also have to give a nod to the nostalgia the show invokes if you grew up in the 80s (especially those of us from Jewish families with spunky grandmothers).
If you want to see a show that hits all the notes, figuratively and musically, go see The Bedwetter. From curtains up to the final bow, it’s engaging, endearing, and wonderfully entertaining. And I must note that it’s at Arena Stage, where theatre by all artists is applauded and celebrated!
The Bedwetter
Where: Arena Stage | Southwest DC
When: Through March 14
Tickets: Start at $69 (find a discount)
Age recommendations: I’d say mature tweens and older could enjoy it.
Disclosure: I received complimentary tickets to see The Bedwetter, but all opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
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