Quannapowitt Players' 'All in the Timing’: Clever Word-Play and Insightful Commentary

Sometimes we only have one chance, depending on the words we use.

Quannapowitt Players' All in the Timing is a collection of six 10-20 minute vignettes by David Ives, an American playwright. Each comedic story focuses on a play of words, highlighting how words can shape our connections, communication, and understanding of the world.

I didn’t know what All in the Timing was about, so I walked into Quannapowitt Player’s production blind. It was a fun time with laughter and insightful enactments that explored distinct takes on communication. The play exhibits how we can break barriers and find alternatives to connect through understanding and patience.

A cast of 17 performers stars in a collection of six vignettes. Each actor does an excellent job, notably with their comical performances. Comedy is a tough element to land right, which the actors succeed in witty deliveries and hysterical reactions.

The play opens with Sure Thing. Have you ever wished you had a rewind button to erase the embarrassing things that escaped your mouth? Jessica Mabanglo-Burgett and Mack Carroll undergo several retakes of a chance encounter in a cafe. Words make a huge impact when meeting someone new, so choose wisely.

Ken Tucci, Pegah Rouhani, and Nathan Prosperi channel their inner primates in Words, Words, Words. Three chimpanzees are trapped in an experiment to write the next Hamlet. This narrative distinguishes how we shouldn’t force artistic creation.

The next story was my favorite of All in the Timing. The Universal Language pays respectful representation to anyone who has a speech impediment. Heather Hamilton and Nick Gould embark on unique wordplay excercises, learning languages should be fun. We don’t realize the challenges people face in speech and languages, helping us make connections.

All in the Timing includes a small musical number featuring the whole cast. Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread is a parody of minimalist composer, Philip Glass. I didn’t know some of these plays would be based on well-known people or historical figures.

The Philadelphia humorously examines the pitfalls of miscommunication. Iain Bason and Daniel Barrett play two men who relinquish their frustrations in speaking in ‘Philadelphia’ or ‘Cleveland.’ The stories are up to interpretation, though my theory is how language divides or unites us depending on where you’re from.

The final play of the evening had my friend and I look up the history behind Variations of the Death of Trotsky. Shawn Maguire is absolutely hilarious in his performance as Leon Trotsky who has an axe sticking out of his head! The vignette blends witty comedy and historical references, drawing a loud echo of laughter from the audience.

No theater show is ever put on its feet alone. Donna Corbett and Mary Ellen Macri directed each short play. They uncovered the messages in each story, whether exploring absurdity or making a commentary on human nature.

The Quannapowitt Players' black box theater provides an excellent space for set designs and spacing. Each vignette is enhanced with inventive props and minimalist sets that complement the narrative themes. There’s one colorful set piece that resembles a Scrabble game.

All in the Timing is an insightful show that reflects how language shapes our lives and relationships. It’s also quite comical thanks to the actor's humorous performances. I was laughing on several occasions. This show has a profound message that anyone who feels lonely and misheard will appreciate.

All in the Timing is an entertaining, comical, and thought-provoking production at Quannapowitt Players. It’s playing October 4 - October 19 so buy your tickets and experience this clever word-pun show.