Family, Gender Identity, and Power: “HIR” at the 5 & Dime Theatre

December 4, 2017
2 mins read

A DUAL CRITICS 5 & DIME THEATRE REVIEW

Jacksonville’s 5 & Dime Theatre opened its production of “HIR” on December 1, 2017; it will remain on stage through December 17. This provocative and sometimes hilarious comedy/drama explores domestic issues of family, gender identity, and power. Advisory, R-rated for language and sexual situations.

Sitting in your seat before the action begins, you will be viewing an interior that includes a living room and kitchen, and looks like it was inspired by an episode from TV’s “Hoarders.”  Piles of dirty clothes fill the length of the stage, and old soda cans lie on the floor. There is clutter everywhere!

As the play begins, you see an invalid with a multi-colored clown’s wig; his face is covered with garish makeup and he is dressed in a nightgown. This is Arnold, the family’s father, who has suffered a stroke and communicates slowly, one labored word at a time. The role is portrayed by Bill Ratliff, a local theatrical dynamo for the past thirty years. His outstanding resume includes LBJ in “All the Way,” Oscar Wilde in “Gross Indecencies,” Salieri in “Amadeus” and Monster in “Young Frankenstein.” He recently received a Thespian Award for Lifetime Achievement from Players by the Sea.

Actor Karen Garrett makes her 5 & Dime debut as Paige, his wife and mother of their two children. Things have changed for this dysfunctional family since Arnold’s stroke. Paige has adapted an eccentric approach to day-to-day responsibilities and activities; she’s found freedom from routine and boring chores. She frequently marches around the house in mismatched clothing, waving both arms wildly as she shouts out demands and commands. Her performance is a tour de force. She has an extensive resume, with most of her stage work done at Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre, a group that she co-founded a number of years ago. We recall seeing her on stage at ABET in the past playing the lead in several Russian plays.

Isaac, the family’s son, unexpectedly returns home after three tours of duty as a Marine assigned to Mortuary Services in Afghanistan.  Although conscientious about his job responsibilities, he received a dishonorable discharge due to drug usage. As portrayed by Kyle Geary, he looks very much like a military man, is believable, and is very likeable. Geary was last seen on local stages at ABET as a reporter in “Floyd Collins.”

Isaac can’t understand what has happened to his family. His little sister Maxine is now Max, a transgendering male played brilliantly by Arianna Rodriquez, a senior at the University of North Florida.

The second act shows the effect of Isaac’s attempts to bring order and stability to his family home. We also learn of issues related to his father’s abusive behavior prior to his illness. The show is fast-paced, and will leave you breathless with shifts between comedy and tragedy.

If you’re curious about the title “HIR,” Max is using the gender-neutral pronouns ‘Ze’ and ‘Hir’ instead of ‘he,’ ‘she,’ ‘him,’ or ‘her.’ And we will leave the ending for you to discover.


This is Josh Waller’s debut as a director entirely on his own, and he skillfully directs a diverse and accomplished cast. You too will appreciate Waller’s relentless pace and the unfettered performances of the actors.

The production crew included Josh Waller (Director); Abigail Saenz (Assistant Director); Kat Mcleod Raspa (Stage Manager);  Nicole Anderson (Lighting Design); Lee Hamby (Production Manager & Set Design); Katie Cress (Light Board Operator& Sound Design); Jetti Godwin (Light & Sound Board Operator); Sarah Stansel (Properties); Christian Cabrera (Costume Design); and  Jetti Godwin & Luke Elmore (Tech Crew).

The Dual Critics of EU Jacksonville have been reviewing plays together for the past nine years. Dick Kerekes has been a critic since 1980, starting with The First Coast Entertainer and continuing as the paper morphed into EU Jacksonville. Leisla Sansom wrote reviews from time to time in the early 80s, but was otherwise occupied in the business world. As a writing team, they have attended almost thirty Humana Festivals of New America Plays at Actors Theatre in Louisville, Kentucky, and many of the annual conferences sponsored by the American Theatre Critics Association, which are held in cities throughout the country.

They have reviewed plays in Cincinnati, Chicago, Miami, Sarasota, Minneapolis, Orlando, New York, Philadelphia, Sarasota, San Francisco, Shepherdstown, and The Eugene O’Neill Center in Waterford, Massachusetts. They currently review about one hundred plays annually in the North Florida area theaters, which include community, college, university, and professional productions.

Current Issue

Recent Posts

SUBMIT EVENTS

Submit Events

Advertisements

SingOutLoadFestival_TheAmp_2025
liz-buys-houses-digital
generac-home-standby-generator-banners

Date

Title

Current Month

Follow FOLIO!

Previous Story

CHRISTMAS CAROLE at the Alhambra: An Annual Holiday Favorite

Next Story

MIXED Bag Edition

Latest from Downtown

THE ILLUSIONISTS will add magic to your season

This Tuesday, for one night only, the record-breaking THE ILLUSIONISTS-MAGIC OF THE HOLIDAYS will be onstage at the Performing Arts Center in Jacksonville.  Having originated on Broadway, the show features rotating performers who have wowed audiences around the world since 2012. Multi-award-winning Chris Cox – The Mentalist  – has performed

Rumor Has It

Is First Baptist Church controlling Downtown development?  Words by Ambar Ramirez It’s one of the oldest and largest Baptist congregations in Jacksonville. And probably one of the most influential. Whether you were born and raised in Jacksonville or moved to this bold city in recent years, chances are you know

Downtown we will rock you with THE ULTIMATE QUEEN CELEBRATION

This Friday (10/18), Jacksonville rock fans are going to get a special treat.  THE ULTIMATE QUEEN CELEBRATION is coming to our city for one performance only.  This is not a typical tribute or impersonation show, nor is it a story about Freddy Mercury and the original group.  This is a

Jacksonville Is Getting in Its Own Way … Again.

What is really happening with the Laura Street Trio? Words by Carmen Macri In the very heart of Downtown Jacksonville lies the very vacant Laura Street Trio. The buildings have been deteriorating for more than 30 years with graffiti covering the walls and overgrown weeds taking over the landscape.

Bold Love Fest

Words by Emily Cannon A festival for bold love in the Bold City, the Bold Love Fest is a concert and festival celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride for all. The inaugural event, producedy by Bold Events, will take place at Daily’s Place on June 15. The festival will feature artists such as
July 5th Cleanup
GoUp

Don't Miss

The Immigrant: An Upbeat, Limited-Set Story at Players by the Sea's Studio Theatre

The Immigrant: An Upbeat, Limited-Set Story at Players by the Sea’s Studio Theatre

A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW Jacksonville Beaches is always coming up
Something Rotten: Funniest Musical Ever Seen at Theatre Jacksonville, Photo by Maya Adkins

Something Rotten: Funniest Musical Ever Seen at Theatre Jacksonville

A DUAL CRITICS REVIEW: Something Rotten at Theatre Jacksonville Theatre