Larcom Theatre's 'The Infinite Moment of Now' is a Heartfelt Ode to Friendship

Our friendship is like a triangle. It’s the strongest shape.

Presented at the Larcom Theatre, The Infinite Moment of Now is an original play written by Bianca Vranceanu. It follows three best friends who regularly meet at their favorite spot by the fountain to vent about life and reminisce. As the years go by, the women’s friendship changes, leading to lost time and regrets.

I felt a deep appreciation after seeing The Infinite Moment of Now. This original play beautifully emphasizes friendship. While friendships may not always last forever, the memories never fade.

MV Kartoz (Sophia), Olivia Raso (Phoebe), and Bridget Saunders (Emma) explore a genuine dynamic, honest portrayals, and gripping emotions. Each actress has impressive dramatic abilities, like Raso who bequeaths a heartwrenching monologue.

Kartoz is funny in her performance of the energetic and unfiltered Sophia. She was very animated in her telling of her first period. Sophia supplies the friendship meeting snacks, collects several cups of memories, and is the glue that holds the friends together.

The dynamic between these characters shifts and changes as they grow, mirroring the way many real-life friendships have gone. Once college starts, Emma takes her own pathway and doesn’t humor Sophia’s memory cup game. The three friends have contrasting personalities and often don’t agree, but that’s what friendship entails.

The Infinite Moment of Now is a funny, moving, and reflective story, but a scene felt missing. The show has three segments, beginning when the girls are 15, then shifting to when they’re 18 and heading off to college, until evolving into a tragic event.

An additional scene, like perhaps a scene with the girls having a phone conversation could have provided more depth before the third segment. However, it’s best an additional scene doesn’t exist as it would have ruined the nuanced weight of the story.

This show was lucky to be performed on the beautiful stage of the Larcom Theatre. The fountain where the girls meet is a symbolic character of its own. We’ve all had significant gathering spots where we meet up with friends to share secrets.

One of the show’s highlights is its use of set design, lighting, and music. As the mood of the scenes shifts, so does the lighting. Music choices are also important, playing hit pop songs that we’ve lip-synced to with makeshift microphones. The final song, ‘Where You Lead,’ was the perfect tune to end the show.

The Infinite Moment of Now serves as a window to understand that some friendships don’t always grow. Playwright, Bianca Vranceanu wanted to write a show about the magic of friendship. “Change is inevitable,” Vranceanu explains, “Friendships adapt as people grow, and growth is not linear, it diverts and changes the bonds over time.”

Director Maddie Roth was immediately captivated by the show’s elements and did a beautiful job translating a compelling visual from the script’s pages. The Infinite Moment of Now is more than just a play about friendship, but about growing up, drifting apart, and regret, making it resonate with audiences.

This is a show for all of us. In the audience sat several different generations of friendships. I will never forget the moment the show ended and when the lights came up, some friends stood up, wiping tears from their eyes, and hugged one another. This was a heartfelt moment that I will carry with me from this show.

This show was the most heartwarming experience ever. Cherish friendship memories and every moment you spend together. Enjoy a day out with your friends and go see The Infinite Moment of Now playing at Larcom Theatre until September 22.