Emby Productions Presents 'A Loss Like This'

Emby Productions presents A Loss Like This, a collection of five one-act plays by Jes Mabanglo-Burgett. In five compelling narratives, the show explores grief in relationships with family, partners, and even oneself.

In her playwriting debut, Jes Mabanglo-Burgett brings to life a set of stories inspired by various moments and relationships in her life. She wanted to portray grief in distinct contexts. A Loss Like This mixes comedy and drama, bringing audiences on an exciting ride.

“I believe everyone will grieve something at some point in their life. I’ve experienced grief in death, too, but I also want to validate feelings of grief in other aspects of our lives, like losing a friendship or losing yourself. Grief is love after loss, but loss looks like a lot of things,” Mabanglo-Burgett emphasized.

Each play is directed by a different person Mabanglo-Burgett has worked with in some capacity. She describes her collaboration with each director as a great experience, praising how they’ve let her share personal moments from her life.

Next came the casting process. Over thirty people signed up to audition! In auditions, Mabanglo-Burgett and the directing team looked for energetic actors who dug between the lines of the scripts. Casting was challenging, as directors collaborated closely to decide which actors best fit each role.

‘Planes in the Night’ is about two strangers who share a brief but meaningful encounter in an airport. Director Maurisa Charest was drawn to the story’s theme about connection. “I truly believe people come into your life for a reason. Even if it’s for a brief moment in time,” Charest said.

Charest and her cast have spent time getting to know each other. They’ve also explored the ‘red string’ theory. Cast Member Mack Carroll said the exercise has helped him recall different paths in his life.

Matthew Lundergan directs ‘Con Dolore,’ a play about two estranged friends. Friendships are always morphing, and sometimes people grow apart. In rehearsals, Lundergan focused heavily on the dynamics between his cast members to ensure authentic relationships onstage. Lundergan hopes the play encourages attendees to reach out to a friend they haven’t talked to in a while.

The next play is ‘Five Golden Rings,’ directed by Jen Stearns. Stearns recounted that her play is about the loss of the expected future as a family grapples with divorce. As a single mother, Stearns related to this theme. “It’s how we adjust our expectations that ultimately determines whether we’re able to access happiness for ourselves,” she explained.

In her rehearsals, they’ve found how to include levity, to alleviate the play’s heavy moments. “The humor woven into the heaviness makes it all feel incredibly human,” said cast member David Saunders. “These plays explore grief, yes, but also the complicated beauty of family, and I think that’s something a lot of us can see ourselves in.”

Jes Mabanglo-Burgett directs ‘Our Time Together,’ a play about a married couple discussing a serious topic in counseling. While her background is mainly screenwriting, she has enjoyed this new challenge in directing theater, though her approach is the same. “I wanted to offer some new stories and characters for our cast to devise together and genuinely enjoy,” she said.

The final play is directed by Nathan Mabanglo-Burgett (Jes’s husband!). Although most of his directing experience is in film, Mabanglo-Burgett is excited to direct for the stage again.

‘The Epilogue’ centers around an English professor who is working through a massive mistake he’s made. Well, two actually. His focus is on the character’s journey in the play. “I deeply believe that everyone deserves a chance at redemption,” Mabanglo-Burgett remarks. He wants the play to help audiences reflect on crucial life moments.

A Loss Like This plays for one weekend only, May 30-June 1, at Acting Out! Theatre Company in Lawrence, MA. Cast member Mack Carroll believes that A Loss Like This will make for an excellent audience experience, adding, “If you don’t come with a friend, try to make one (at the performance). More community is a good thing.”