The Playground
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
5 Stars
The Playground written and directed by Jim Dalglish and starring Anna Botsworth follows the elegantly destructive story of a former university professor and dedicated ethnographer. Joan and her family move to New York City for her husband Will’s, new job opportunity. What follows is a star-crossed, glittering descent into shallow devastating madness and loss of self as Joan navigates through a mesmeric perspective with the audience. Her innermost turmoils (and discommoding pleasures) while succumbing to the poison that is the stark detachment of the elite class.
At first, when figuring how I was going to approach writing this review, I honestly had no words to describe the absolute wonder of this production. Now, however I have found some strong words to sum it up: compelling, fiercely gripping, intensely emotive, and without a doubt disturbing, in the best of ways.
Botsford’s performance was out-of-this-world. Truly, she was a jewel and I was hooked at the edge of my seat for the entire 2-hour-long performance. Her attention to character, nuance, and detail, her vocal dynamic and structure, her completely immersive body language, all of it was irresistible. My heart was broken and my mind was frenzied and I haven’t felt a sense of vigorous disturbance like that in a long time. I applaud Botsford for making bold and specific acting choices and for leaving such an awe-inspiring impact on myself and my fellow theatregoers.
About the show itself, Dalglish presents such a keenly eye-opening piece of theatre that I ardently believe deserves the utmost of attention. He brings to the forefront the racial and ethnic disparities between socioeconomic classes in America. There is hollow cordialness and its aftermath of the ultra-elite; the discrepancies and inequalities of women in the workforce and those facing motherhood. There is undoubtedly current distress, divide and sorrow faced by immigrants backed against the corner by the unforgiving swathes of ICE. All of it was written and performed with such arduous dedication and I am mesmerized by the sheer brilliance of Dalglish’s writing and Botsford’s ability to bring it all to life.
The Playground’s irresolute ending has Joan reminded of her downfall by the ceaseless return of dandelions as well as the apprehensive fear gripping her son Billy’s eyes which are both immaculate motifs. We too remain in a world unresolved; broken, forlorn and swept up by disconnect. The question now becomes as Dalglish so earnestly states “What do we think we deserve?” May we someday somehow discover the answer.
The Playground
Starring: Anna Botsford
Performed on: November 6, 2026
October 19 - November 22, 2026
Reviewer: Grayson Sebert
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