Darryl Vinyard's Timely & Powerful Vaccine Drama, "Right" Opens at The Whitefire Theatre
- Dan Ruth
- Sep 6
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 13
Saturday, September 6th, Los Angeles, CA
written by Entertainment Editor, Dan Ruth
At some point yesterday before I left for the theater, I came across a meme somewhere on social media that was making connections and correlations between the decline of western, particularly American intelligence, and the gradual but steady disappearance of civics, political and social sciences from our schools. As someone who was around when civics classes were not only offered, but mandatory, and something with which I agree, it was one hell of a way to lay the grounds and set the mood for going to the Whitefire Theatre to see Darryl Vinyard’s newly crafted play Right, a study of an American family, torn apart by the chaos behind the science of child vaccinations. Add to this, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his current grilling on the floors of Congress about the “evils“ of vaccines, and you have pretty good snapshot of an America that is currently trapped in a quandary between truth and personal choice, clouded with nearly unlimited conspiracies and lack of trust when it comes to doctors and other members of the medical profession. Vinyard’s play, which is smartly set in the fall of 2024, before the reelection of DJT and the opinions of RFK Jr., is as American as it gets. Except now, the apple pie has been replaced by barbs and hate speech aimed toward members of families that just might be your own; it’s certainly true of mine.
At the top of the play, the stage is brimming with decorations from a child’s birthday; a living room strewn with gift wrap, colorful banners and balloons cluttering the space. What’s most telling however, is the tower of seemingly unopened pizza boxes that sit on the balloon-decorated plastic tablecloth-covered table, along with other unopened snacks. Jake (Mitch Rosander) is cleaning up, while brother Carter (Eric Keitel) watches from the sofa. There is little joy in the room, which seems filled instead with a heavy weight from years of unspoken angst and jealousy. It becomes apparent that Jake’s son Dylan’s birthday wasn’t very well-received, most likely because Jake and his wife Aubrey (Sara Maraffino) have chosen not to have their child vaccinated. This is further complicated when Carter’s wife Jenna (Gloria Ines) enters the space with Aubrey and with the news that Jenna and Carter are going to have a baby of their own. With the four parents feigning joy, Jenna drops a bomb about wanting Jake, Aubrey, and their child Dylan (who is asleep offstage), to stay away from their unborn child unless Dylan gets “his shots.” Pretty soon the onion begins to peel, and the alcohol begins to flow, as the two couples begin a polite, yet stinging dance of wills.
The cracks in this family unit begin to crumble with Carter (a modest school teacher) shares his reluctance to fully support Jenna and “their” decision to keep the other couple and Dylan at bay, while Jake (a bread-winning carpenter) refuses to budge on their refusal, citing complete distrust with the safety of giving, as Aubrey puts it, “the poison” to their child. This is further complicated with the two brother’s mother dying of unchecked lung cancer, and Aubrey’s experience having survived uterine cancer, leaving her unable to bear more children of her own. What ensues is a timeless and endless battle of experience and opinion, pitting science against Google searches, faith against fundamentals, willful ignorance against child deformities, and most apparent here, being right against being elitist. Vinyard’s script is smart, well-structured, and captivating, raising issue with all that is timely in media, without ever drowning in fear compulsion. With every turn, just when you think you’re going to side with one couple, the other’s experience and opinion rise to near-unscalable points. Brotherly jealousies over status, money woes, the medical profession and its greedy and sinister dance with insurance companies, all rise to the fore, with attempts at resolution. Right gets personal at times, with much of the venom rising from Jake and his determination to remain unswayed, but often the truth keeps the sting relatable, allowing room for the audience to laugh at some of Jake's blue-collar barbs at Carter such as, “sorry I didn’t go to college to get stupid.”
This well written and powerfully performed “clash of the titans” is highly entertaining, it never dips into melodrama and keeps the audience at complete attention through its quick 70-minute running time. Jenna, played beautifully by Gloria Ines, navigates a fine line between schooling and sincereness, and you have to wonder how her relationship will fare with the sheepishly jealous Carter, played by the highly resonant Eric Keitel, whose final monologue nearly brought me to my feet. Mitch Rosander’s Jake and his angry yet quietly commanding presence, remains even keel; captivating while never teetering on hyperbolic. You will leave the theatre thinking long and hard on the points that Jake makes. The night’s heartstrings go out to Sara Maraffino, whose powerfully nuanced, proud yet delicate Aubrey, makes a potentially unmoving character, with her large gleaming gold cross, warm and nearly swayable. Maraffino’s final moment, as the lights fade to black, will not easily be forgotten, thanks to the vision of Director, Bryan Rasmussen, who navigates the cast and script with both levity and with powerful, haunting imagery. Darryl Vinyard’s Right paves a powerful and steady path, keeps it clear of muddier political waters, and makes way for a strong ending that remains deeply unresolved. We all fear death, and we cling to life, perhaps what we’re missing is more art and live theatre that presents us with the dignity and grace of being human. Right should be on your list of new works in the Los Angeles area not to be missed.
The production team includes Jeff G. Rack (Scene Design), Derrick McDaniel (Lighting Design), Michael Mullen (Costume Design) and Mitch Rosander (Production Manager/Sound Design).
Right opens this evening and runs through October 18th. The Whitefire Theatre 13500 Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks. For more information, visit www.whitefiretheatre.com or call 818-687-8559. Click here for tickets.
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