Serious Adverse Effects: Reflections on the Baltimore Production
Last month, Baltimore’s Rapid Lemon Productions presented a three-week run of my hunt-for-the-cure play: Serious Adverse Effects.
I’m still processing my thoughts on this production. Overall, I’m excited and grateful. I don’t have an organic relationship with the Baltimore theater community, and to have that company bring so much enthusiasm and confidence to my play has been humbling.
I must admit I had doubts this show would go on. It had a March 2021 date for a while, which was pushed back with good reason because of the pandemic. Even with the May date, I wasn’t in a position to travel with confidence, so I was a bit distant as the playwright.
The cast of’ Serious Adverse Effects’ (clockwise from top left): Max Johnson (Brandon), Valerie Lewis (Dr. Vye), Kyla Hammond (Paula), and Maria Marsalis (Nia). Photos courtesy of Rapid Lemon Productions.
The audience response – from what I can tell via attending streamed performances — was engaged, if a bit muted due to social distancing guidelines. Likewise, attendance was modest. But the production garnered a half dozen reviews and I was invited to do a few interviews which I was happy to do.
So all in all, quite the endeavor. Hats off to the whole team for making it happen:
Directed by Noah Silas.
Cast: Valerie Lewis, Kyla Hammond, Max Johnson, and Maria Marsalis.
Dramaturgy by Agyeiwaa Asante.
Designs by Bruce Kapplin, Allan Sean Weeks, Deana Fisher Brill, Flynn Harne, and Max Garner.
Stage Management by Flynn Harne.
Here’s some reviews:
