Strap in tight

Dobama’s ‘The Other Place’ a mystery-filled and emotional ride

The exquisite production of “The Other Place” on stage at Dobama Theatre is not for the faint of heart.

You have to understand that by setting foot in the Cleveland Heights venue, you will be allowing yourself to ride an emotional roller coaster. But the hills and drops that are a part of roller coaster riding — and life — are, while indeed uncomfortable, almost always present in some way for all of us, if maybe not in the same way that they manifest themselves for Juliana Smithton (Tracee Patterson). In general, though, pain and suffering is a part of the human condition.

If it sounds as if these words are veiled in some sort of code, it may be because reviewers received an important request that in our reviews we “do not describe vital plot points as this play is in large part a mystery with various reveals.” To oblige, here is a brief synopsis:

Juliana is a well-known neurologist whose life is coming apart at the seams, but we are not quite sure why. She shares with the audience that her husband is divorcing her, intimating that he has a wandering eye; her daughter has run off with an older man, who happens to be Juliana’s former colleague; and on top of all that, she fears her own health may be at risk. Much mystery surrounds these details, and we soon learn things may not be what they seem. And as we follow Juliana on a twisted journey,

as her present comes face to face with her past, we feel almost as helpless as she does.

At the center of writer Sharr White’s puzzle is Patterson and her absolutely fearless performance. Her ability to sit in her vulnerability and tap into her raw emotion is not only brave, but it brings this production to a whole different level, mesmerizing the audience with her honesty.

By her side is Doug Sutherland, a relatively new but very welcome addition to Cleveland stages. Sutherland portrays the role of Juliana’s husband, Ian, with utter compassion, strength and, at times, heartbreaking weakness.

Mary Werntz and Prophet Seay are memorable in their supporting roles of Woman

and Man, respectively. Werntz is at her best as a sympathetic neighbor who finds herself in an uncomfortable situation with a very fragile Juliana.

Adding to the intensity of the production are Jeremy Paul’s projections of rolling waves against stark patterned walls and Nathan Motta’s careful direction as he protects the integrity of each character while giving his actors the room, as well as a safe space, to push themselves to reach the emotional depth necessary to make this production extremely real in quite a scary way.

This show does not make for a light evening at the theater, but it is the kind of production that once again reminds us how lucky we are that the Cleveland theater scene is made up of a talented cohort of people who are in the business of making art, taking risks, and moving the needle, even if it means forcing themselves, and their audiences, out of their comfort zone.

STEVE WAGNER PHOTOGRAPHY Doug Sutherland, as Ian, and Tracee Patterson, as Juliana perform in the Dobama Theatre production of “The Other Place.”