Aren Hugo
RICH LOPEZ | Staff writer
Rich@DallasVoice.com
On Friday, Amphibian Stage in Fort Worth will kick off its first show of the year. In Rooted, Emery is a plant lover whose safe haven is an expansive treehouse. But in Deborah Zoe Laufe’s oddball comedy, Emery is mistaken for a savior via the internet as fans amass outside her house, and plants and people come to a reckoning when all Emery wanted to do was hang out with her green friends.
All the while, her caregiver and sister Hazel navigates a tricky relationship with Emery amidst this swell of notoriety.
Rooted opens on Friday, Jan. 31 and runs through Feb. 16.
For director Scott Evans, the play is about relationships and connection and the power that comes with those.
“This story about a woman in a treehouse who accidentally starts a cult is fantastic commentary on internet culture and hero worship run amok, and absolutely perfect fodder for comedy,” Evans said in the play’s announcement. “But at the heart of Deb’s play are these beautifully written characters and these rich relationships that allow this quirky comedy to open up and explore things like the complex relationship between science and belief, and the transformative power of human connection — all in surprisingly nuanced and insightful ways.”
As the play unfolds, LuAnne, a bright-eyed follower played by Aren Hugo (she/they), connects with Emery over shared experiences.
“When she comes in, she kind of shifts and wiggles her way with Emery, but I’m reluctant to say more because her relationship with Emery is special to discover,” she said.
The director added that there is something profound within the laughs of Rooted. The sisters have their own dynamic. Then LuAnne happens. Each character brings a unique layer to this story.
“These women are hysterical and heartbreaking and utterly delightful, and before long, you realize that amongst all the laughs is something quite moving, perhaps even profound,” Evans mentioned. “It’s great theater.”
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