REVIEW: Birthday Candles
This is a deeply human production
REVIEW: Birthday Candles
This one got me.
In Noah Haidle's remarkable "Birthday Candles," currently playing at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre, we are reminded just how precious life truly is. The play follows “Ernestine Ashworth” from her 17th birthday to her 107th, all through the ritual of baking the same birthday cake recipe year after year. It's a simple premise that delivers profound emotional impact.
Joanie Schultz is quickly becoming one of my favorite directors. After her work on "Origin Story" (which I still talk about) and “Dracula”, she once again demonstrates excellence with this production. She knows exactly when to keep things moving at a brisk pace and when to let moments simmer—or sometimes outright stop—to maximize emotional impact. Her clarity of storytelling is masterful, and her ability to guide actors through things like the physical transformation of aging is nothing short of astounding.
The performers in this play are outstanding, especially Barbara Chisholm, who is on stage for the entire play. She is remarkable. I remember being so impressed with her in “Misery” a few years ago; watching her embody the lifespan of “Ernestine” is a treat I won’t soon forget. She guides us memorably through this touching play. As Ernestine, she crafts a complete human being through subtle changes in posture, vocal tone, and emotional presence. This is her show, and she carries it with grace and power.
The other actors are equally brilliant. Will Allen specifically wrecked me with his portrayal of Billy as an old man. The transformation is so complete that I found myself forgetting I was watching the same actor who had, just an hour earlier, been a vibrant young man. Bill Timoney is so comfortable on stage; his comic timing is impeccable and his effortless charisma just oozes through every scene. Adam Poss grounds "Matt," Ernestine's husband, in authenticity, while Mierka Girten astounds with her quirky and wild portrayal of Joan.
Amira Danan (previously seen at the Playhouse in both “Origin Story” and “Sanctuary City”) is a fabulously versatile performer, and this production allows her to show even more of her talent. I was especially impressed with her ability to inhabit a nurturing mother and a manic, mentally ill daughter with such ease. The contrast between these characters speaks to her remarkable range.
The technical elements serve the storytelling perfectly. Thomas Dixon's sound design and original compositions are smart and evocative, while Allen Hahn's lighting is subtle and perfect. Valérie Thérèse Bart's minimalistic and functional set design creates the perfect canvas for the story to unfold, and Moyenda Kulemeka's costumes help keep us informed as to who is who and what era of their lives we're witnessing. Nothing distracts from the emotional core of the story.
"Birthday Candles" is the most human thing I've seen on stage in some time. The play reminds us that while our individual moments may seem insignificant, the accumulated weight of a life lived fully—with all its joys, heartbreaks, and mundane routines—is anything but. As Ernestine bakes her cake year after year, we're reminded that the ingredients of a life – love, loss, family, memory—are what truly matter.
Don't miss it–and bring the tissues. You’re gonna need them.
BIRTHDAY CANDLES runs at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre through May 18, 2025. Tickets and more information can be found at cincyplay.com.