A Rock Sails By lands at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

Laura Turnbull and Mallory Newbrough in A Rock Sails By at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre. Photo by Alberto Romeu.

By Raquel V. Reyes

A Rock Sails By is a star vehicle for Laura Turnbull, the actor playing the lead role of astrophysicist Dr. Lynn Cummings in the drama running through June 9 at the Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables.

Playwright Sean Grennan has written a “so long and thanks for the donuts” kind of story about a two-time Nobel Prize nominated scientist receiving a first stages of dementia diagnosis.

Laura Turnbull, right, and Mallory Newbrough in A Rock Sails By at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre. Photo by Alberto Romeu.

While the press release for the play touts it as a mother-daughter reconnecting story, that narrative takes a backseat to the bigger theme of Dr. Cummings’ grief.

The tenured professor is mourning the loss of her husband, her career, and, eventually, her hyperthymestic (highly detailed) memory.

Turnbull does a fantastic job of making the Vera Stanhope-like character likable. The audience feels for Dr. Cummings.

Daniel Llaca and Mallory Newbrough in A Rock Sails By at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre. Photo by Alberto Romeu.

Most of the one-liners and humorous quips that land are thanks to Turnbull’s talented characterization and delivery. (For those unfamiliar, Vera Stanhope is the brilliant, but curmudgeon character in Ann Cleeves’ popular novels and the British TV series Vera.)

The four-person cast is rounded out with Mallory Newbrough as the daughter Olive, Daniel Llaca as Jason, a tabloid reporter with a good heart, and Lela Elam playing multiple roles.

Newbrough has a natural physicality for the role of Olive, the English major who prefers hiking boots. She is believable as a loving daughter to a prickly mother.

Llaca gives a strong performance as Jason. He holds his own in several snappy dialogue scenes with the professor. It helps that his character brings donuts to the scientific and moral repartee.

Lela Elam and Laura Turnbull in A Rock Sails By at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre. Photo by Alberto Romeu

The actor who gets the short end of the stick is Lela Elam, who plays three characters in Act One. Between the poor wigs and the stereotypes, it is hard to know if the writing, the directing, or the actor’s choices make the portrayal of the three minor characters cringey. But Elam redeems herself in Act Two when she takes on a pivotal character with boldness. She keeps the twinkling silver-clad visitor on the knife blade of absurd without slipping into campy comedy.

Mallory Newbrough and Daniel Llaca in A Rock Sails By at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre. Photo by Alberto Romeu.

Brandon M. Newton, scenic designer, and Jodi Dellaventura, set dressing and property design, should be credited for a simple and effective stage that doesn’t distract from the acting.

Lighting designer Eric Nelson has a delicate approach to the celestial saving the incandescent drama for Cumming’s purple-hued dementia moments.

Sound designer Reidar Sorensen also uses a light touch. His crickets chirping background noise adds believability to the outdoor night sky setting. Sorensen sets the mood before the curtain rises with introductory music that will make long-time Miami locals feel like they are back at the planetarium waiting for the Star Gazer segment to begin.

A Rock Sails By marks Grennan’s sixth production at Actors’ Playhouse, following Now and Then, The Tin Woman, Making God Laugh, Married Alive! and Another Night Before Christmas.

Lela Elam and Laura Turnbull in A Rock Sails By at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre. Photo by Alberto Romeu

A Rock Sails By, directed by David Arisco, is a solid play with bright moments. Catch its Florida premiere before its voyage ends June 9th. Laura Turnbull is stellar and should not be missed.

Raquel V. Reyes is the author of the award-winning Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series. Her latest novel is Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal. Find her across social media as @LatinaSleuths and at www.LatinaSleuths. com.

A Rock Sails By plays through June 9 at the Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables. Ticket prices range from $40 to $75. Call 305-444-9293, or visit actorsplayhouse.org.