Erica, shy and more than a little socially awkward, is in love with Dee. The problem is that her politician sister, her only and equally awkward new friend, and the nosy residents of their small town in Massachusetts don’t understand at all, because Dee… well, Dee is a Dairy Queen sign. Inanimate is a play that explores objectum sexuality, feeling like an outsider, listening to your heart and finally, finding your tribe.

This world premiere production by Nick Robideau will be directed by Flea Associate Artist Courtney Ulrich and will feature The Bats, the resident acting company at The Flea, including Lacy Allen, Maki Borden, Philip Feldman, Artem Kreimer, Tressa Preston, Michael Oloyede, Nancy Tatiana Quintana, with understudies Marcus Antonio Jones and Alexandra Slater. The creative team includes Yu-Hsuan Chen (Scenic Design), Becky Heisler (Lighting Design), Sarah Lawrence (Costume Design), Megan Culley (Sound Design), Claire Edmonds (Assistant Director) and Gina Solebello (Production Stage Manager).

Inanimate is a somewhat misleading title for such a buoyant, funny, and heartwarming journey of self-acceptance and love. Nick Robideau’s play directed by Courtney Ulrich makes its world premiere at The Flea’s new, beautiful performing arts complex in Tribeca. Each laugh is genuine and plentiful. Each emotional moment is sincere and pitch perfect. We follow Erica (a hilarious yet sensitive Lacy Allen) as she navigates love with Dee (Philip Feldman). He makes her feel like the best version of herself, a person less alone and seen. He shines a light on her — literally and figuratively — because he’s the “D” of the Dairy Queen sign in her small town. Erica has what is called objectum sexuality. She’s attracted to objects, instead of humans, and she feels more connected to them than her sister Trish (Tressa Preston) or anyone else in town. She talks to a can opener, a lamp, and a stuffed animal toy — all animated by key members of the Flea’s resident acting company, The Bats, who, as various characters throughout the play, are truly dynamic talents. As the “inanimate” objects, they comfort her, encourage her, and even arouse her. When the can opener speaks to her, he (Michael Oloyed …Read more