←Recommendations of GROWTH IN ISOLATION

"Growth in Isolation" is absurd in the best ways possible.

The story itself is strange, but familiar -- the ups and downs of modern romantic relationships. The dialogue offers opportunities for humor, anger, and heartbreak for the actors and moments for the audience to feel genuine empathy -- and give Monica Cross credit because neither character is a villain or a martyr.

I watched a wonderful performance of "Growth in Isolation" by the Quarantine Players in September 2020.

If Darren Aronofsky made Sleepless in Seattle, it might look a little like this – and I mean that as the highest compliment.

The characters possess a youthful enthusiasm about romance that transcends the pandemic but might not be able to withstand the more extreme aspects of their separation.

Cross has taken spiritual inertia and physicalized it in ways that are beautiful, disturbing, and well... juicy.

One can’t help but root for this relationship while understanding why it may no longer be viable. The stakes are bizarre and impossibility high with no easy solution. Brilliantly and bravely weird!

Cross does justice to both aspects of the magical realist genre with on one-hand a realistic portrayal of the challenges and and tragedies of maintaining love and desire in a long-term, long-distance relationship, and a magical, and potentially erotic, antidote to the body-horror that has gripped our collective imagination in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A great play for young actors. Used in a classroom, this could open up a very lively discussion about relationships and how we grow and change over time, and how this personal growth can negatively impact an existing relationship. A timely play that can be used on a platform like Zoom. Loved it!

There are so many ways to interpret this piece and I love them all. It may mean one thing now (2020) and something entirely different in the future, but that's the beauty of it. People grow in many ways. Some people need to leave home to grow, others need to dig in where they are. Whatever nurtures your soul is right for you. Grow for yourself. And if people can't accept the fruits of your labor, though it hurts, its on them. I love this script! And great that its appropriate for socially distant performances!

Ryan is struggling to come to terms with a growing issue that is changing him, while he is in denial. Strong Sendak vibe, playing on the idea that some of us are stuck in one place and take root. Twist hits you out of nowhere.