‘Distracted’ at Oakland proves to be insightful

By LORRAINE WARDLE

entertainment@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

In today’s world of media saturation, surrounded by constant television, texting, and Twittering, it’s hard enough for an adult to stay focused. For a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, it’s practically impossible.

“Distracted,” the latest production at the Oakland Center for the Arts, explores the challenges of living with ADHD in a relentlessly distracting world.

The play by Lisa Loomer focuses on a mother whose 9-year-old son Jesse is loud, unruly and unfocused. On the advice of Jesse’s teacher, she has him tested for ADHD and begins an endless search for answers.

Mama travels from doctor to doctor in a series of vignettes that involves multiple phone calls, text messages, call waiting, television shows and other distractions. Along the way she also meets with neighbors who regale her with their opinions, the teacher who disapproves of Jesse’s behavior, and a baby sitter who thinks Jesse is perfect.

Jesse’s dad also tries to help but is often too busy to listen to all the chatter. He thinks they should just forget it and let Jesse “be a boy.”

Loomer’s script becomes a little tedious as the audience watches scene after scene, listening to opinion after opinion. Her message is so obvious, it practically hits you over the head: Mama is as distracted as Jesse.

Loomer’s play essentially is a monologue by Mama as she shares her memories with the audience. She describes her long journey with humor and resignation, keeping her son offstage to protect him.

As Mama, Carla Napoli is the backbone of the production. She almost never leaves the stage, moving seamlessly from one scene to the next. Napoli was completely natural as the harried and hurried mother. She spoke to the audience with an easy, comfortable voice full of concern and emotion.

Napoli and the supporting cast, under the direction of Sam Luptak Jr., helped to bring the scenes to life. As Jesse’s dad, Joe Marshall was a strong and caring father. His concern for his son and his anger with those trying to change him was evident in his voice and his movements.

Grace Offerdahl provided the disembodied voice of Jesse with a range of emotions that bought the character to life. When the audience finally meets Jesse, he is played sweetly and sensitively by Johnny Dragos.

Craig Conrad and Lori Broderick were excellent as they donned multiple roles. Conrad played three different doctors – a farcical homeopath and two passionate doctors who break character to make their points. Broderick’s Dr. Waller was typically detached and her neighbor Vera was a hilarious high-strung housewife.

Gabby Napoli gave a natural and emotional performance as Natalie, Jesse’s baby sitter. Gerri Jenkins played a perfect condescending teacher and Barb Malizia played Dr. Zavala with empathy and great delivery.

Luptak also incorporated projections on the set to define places in the play. However, these projections were often more, well, distracting, than helpful. Despite a few tech and script flaws, the Oakland’s “Distracted” was an insightful and entertaining distraction.

“Distracted” continues at the Oakland on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and next Sunday at 3 p.m. For tickets, call 330-746-0404.