Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Unpacking the grey stuff: Marin Ireland’s PRE-EXISTING CONDITION bravely explores the nuances of domestic violence

• By drediman
• July 1, 2024
• No Comments

I also recently had the opportunity to catch the Off-Broadway production of Marin Ireland’s Pre-Existing Condition, which is currently playing in the intimate upstairs space of the Connelly Theater in the East Village. Most people know Ireland as one of our fiercest stage actresses. Here, she turns her considerable talents to playwriting, using it as a tool to process an unfortunate episode of domestic violence which she encountered in a previous romantic relationship.

Centering on the character of “A” — who is obviously based on Ireland — the play seeks to unpack the unsettling uncertainty she feels about a traumatic abusive experience with an ex-boyfriend. Alternating between victimhood and quiet rage, A also suffers from severe bouts of self-doubt, particularly as it relates to her guilt over her own culpability in matters. In a series of scenes that seamlessly meld into one another, A bravely processes the situation, dealing with her indecisive feelings through therapy sessions, interactions with friends and families, and even tentative subsequent romantic encounters. Throughout, Ireland’s writing is disarmingly candid — particularly potent in such cozy quarters — and unafraid to explore the “grey” nuances of domestic abuse, examining at it from all angles. In a fascinating choice, the actress portraying A performs with script in hand — giving the impression of a staged reading — almost as if to indicate that Ireland continues to be in a state of processing things.

Like Atlantic Theater Company’s recent production of What Became of Us by Shayan Lotfi, Pre-Existing Condition features a rotating set of actresses in the central role of A over the course of its run. The decision to do so gives it a sense of universality, allowing the trauma faced by the character to manifest itself in a multitude of voices. At the performance I attended, the role was played by the show’s director, Maria Dizzia, who gave a bruised, quietly devastating performance (Dizzia recently took over from Tatiana Maslany, who opened the production). Rounding out the accomplished cast as various characters in A’s life are Greg Keller, Dael Orlandersmith, and Sarah Steele, all of whom deliver performances of remarkable clarity and incisiveness.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

PRE-EXISTING CONDITION
Off-Broadway, Play
Connelly Theater
1 hour, 30 minutes (without an intermission)
Through August 3