Written by orange• May 6, 2025• 2:48 am• Costa Mesa, Review, South Coast Repertory, Theater, Uncategorized

World Premiere: The Staircase @ South Coast Repertory – Review

photo credit: Robert Huskey

Written by Patrick Chavis

The world premiere of The Staircase is playing now at South Coast Repertory from April 27 – May 18, 2025.

This slow-burning play about an aging Hawaiian mother & her bi-racial son at a crossroads in their lives explores deep and significant territory but seems a little lost in the process.

The Staircase follows Son (Wil Kahele), who lives with his Mother (Ehulani Hope Kane) in their two-story house with a very prominent wooden staircase. Son spends his time playing cards and looking after Mother, who shows signs of some neurological issue, possibly dementia. I’m not a doctor, but she has memory issues for sure. When a former flame, Sweetheart (Nara Cardenas), appears after years apart, questions about Son’s and Mother’s futures arise.

Story:

The play has a profound message about family, culture, and letting go. It stays very grounded, mainly focusing on the relationship between the Son and Mother. It also uses artful choices with the visuals of falling mangoes down the stairs, the special part of Son hidden beneath the stairs, and much more. Each piece has significance in the play and a connection to the characters. Lots of meaningful visuals are shown but not necessarily mentioned. It is a piece that asks the audience to contemplate these images through the devices. However, in my opinion, the messages are relatively clear.

The relationship between Mother and Son is sweet, and Ehulani Hope Kane’s performance has real resonance because of how naturally she talked and related with the character of her son. She captured how it sounds when you talk to someone who cares about you. This might not be the most entertaining show, but playwright Noa Gardner has written something undoubtedly real, especially in the scenes between Mother and Son.

There are some moments of tension in this, but they come a little too late. While it’s not a plot hole by any means, one of the conflicts seems possibly too convenient.

Design:

Scenic Designer Rachel Hauck presents a humble Hawaiian-style living room set with a rather large wooden staircase, a comfy sofa in front and right of the stage, and a small kitchen. The back of the stage is kept pitch black for mood and something quite beautiful later on, as well as little details like a clothesline in the back. Hanging on the left is a mango tree.