The Ins and Outs of Fingers, Spoons, and an Open Marriage
Written and Performed by Pascale Roger-McKeever
Post-Show Thoughts by Jenna Kunselman
off the WALL Productions returned to the theater with an unapologetically bold solo performance by Pascale Roger-McKeever. The Ins and Outs of Fingers, Spoons, and Open Marriage is not a story for the faint of heart. It explores the life of a mid-40s Mom who enters a sexual awakening after she and her hubby agree to experiment with an open marriage. We watch proudly as Mom shatters her hubby’s expectations and catches the attention of their friendly neighbor, with whom Mom builds a conflicting intimate relationship full of wildly confusing, but oddly familiar, sexual tension.
Mom opens up to us as she confronts her relationship with herself, past and present, which inevitably influences the complex nature of her relationship with others. This story reminds us of the intensity that comes with the addiction of falling in love; even if it’s not that great, you always come back for more, and Mom reminds us how demoralizing that can be. As Mom recognizes and reveals who she is, what she wants, and how she wants to be treated, we empathize with her excitement and fear as she dares to step out of her comfort zone while staying authentic to herself.
Although she has a lot on her plate with her love life, Mom reminds us of the strength in individuality through her ability to overcome insurmountable challenges through her grit and tenacity. It is satisfying to watch as Mom finds her voice not only in her one-sided complicated love affair, but also, and most importantly, in her marriage. Mom takes pride in choosing the path less traveled in hopes for a bright future for her and her son. In this 80-minute performance, Mom discovers unfamiliar feelings of confidence, self-respect, and intimacy, which we know she deserves after all she has been through.
Pascale Roger-McKeever’s performance is top-notch. Her matter-of-fact delivery, ability to emulate each character so distinctly, and ability to transform the stage with a single prop and spot-on lighting design (courtesy of Paige Borak,) made for an undeniably fantastic, seamless, powerful show. The audience was earnestly moved by Pascale’s pure vulnerability and unfiltered nature of her storytelling, and we look forward to her return to our stage!
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