Stage Review: The Docent
Presented By: Lakewood Playhouse
Show Run: October 09 - October 25, 2026
Date Reviewed: October 17th, 2026
Run Time: 90 Minutes (no intermission)
Reviewed By: Breanne Jensen
By definition, a docent is a person who acts as a guide, typically on a voluntary basis, in a museum, art gallery, etc. I had to look up the definition as it wasn’t a word I was very familiar with. Since seeing the show, I have asked numerous individuals their definition of what a docent is, and none of them got it right, or even got close! I love it when we can discover new things that are so prevalent to our own lives, yet we had no idea we were missing them. However, just like the people who matter to us, some find us halfway through our journey and we didn’t even know we needed them prior to that. The story of “The Docent” is just that, two people, from completely different walks of life, put together by an oversight and end up being essential to one another’s life story.
Charles is a fabulous gay male who lives in the best self-proclaimed “gayberhood” in New York, who spends his weekends on Fire Island. Eddie is a sheltered, upstate transplant, narrow-minded.... female, with a new job about to begin as a ranger in Central Park. Eddie’s name (despite the checked female box on the application) slides right by Charles’ number one rule, that only men live in the apartment. Eddie demands per the signed lease agreement and six months’ prepaid rent that Charles allows her to stay. Much to his chagrin, Charles allows Eddie to stay and tells her that it doesn’t hurt him to give her kindness regardless of his first impression. That first night in the apartment, while things are heated, Eddie, makes a very bold, biased and hateful statement, and let’s just say that Charles is a much better person than I! As Charles and Eddie’s walls come down, they begin to care for one another, to trust one another and become the best and most unlikely of friends.
Walking into Lakewood Playhouse I am always astounded at how they can transform such an intimate space into so many different places and time capsules. The walls are painted /decorated (scenic design by Aleeza McCant) in classic 1980’s bright colors, geometric shapes, band posters and eclectic furniture. The show begins in the year 1981 and the set design of a velvet sofa, record player, bright bookshelves and more really create a home-like environment. In these four walls, we see the roommates fight (very impressive and clean fight/intimacy coordination by Brookelyne Peterson), sing, dance, drink, curse, cry, love, tell harsh truths and realities and the audience almost feels like they are watching a home movie of these two characters’ lives. The lighting (designed by Alonna Hall) is minimalistic when it needs to be and colorful when engaging with nature or emotion. The costumes (designed by super person, Aleeza McCant) are flattering, effective, and functional for quick changes that our characters do face as the two main fixtures on stage for most of the show. The properties (designed by Madeleine Arnold) are gorgeous, era appropriate, functional and pleasing to the eye! Wonderful job as well to stage manager Maisha Rice, who ran a flawless production.
One thing that is so special about this production is that even in a small yet mighty cast of five actors, the trust they have with each other is so obvious that it makes every subject material presented, comfortable as if the audience is amongst friends… and that is because we are. Jerry Romasco (Ted/Vinnie & u/s Raymond) brings joy, laughter and charm to the production and I hope to get to see him in future comedic roles. Sergio Antonio Garcia (Raymond) plays the not so nice guy in this production,and it was the first time for me to see Garcia play a role that was so harsh and honestly terrifying at moments! My only complaint was that we didn’t get to hear his stunning vocals in this one, but I loved seeing the range of different characters! Megan Marshall (Edna Gregory, aka future Eddie) does a lovely job not only finding mannerisms and moments to reflect her younger self but also really lean into her character’s profession. Marshall’s calm demeanor, professional tone and tender moments made for Edna who has learned from her life lessons. Melvin Rouse Jr. (Charles) is absolutely stunning in this production. To date, this is my favorite role Rouse has done, and it is because he left every part of himself at the door and only brought Charles on stage. Charles embodies a lot of what I have gotten to know Rouse to be as well; kind, understanding, thoughtful, patient, trusting, hilarious, talented, welcoming, loving and someone you know you’ll never forget after you meet them. Rouse’s character has a moment with Eddie in which he says, “I want to wake up and not have to fight back shame…. I want to feel good inside. I want to get up every day and walk down the street and feel good about myself” and the gravity of that dialogue mixed with Rouse’s understanding of that feeling and what that weight feels like had me holding my mouth closed from audibly weeping. That sentence sums up entirely how every human being wishes to feel and yet we don’t allow it for ourselves. Thank you to playwright Donna Kaz for your profound text and to Melvin Rouse for creating a moment in art that was so special I’ll never forget it. Brookelyne Peterson (“Eddie” Gregory) shines on stage in a way that allows you to see right into her core. Like her co-star, she left all of herself to embody a character that she knows the past and future for and that can be quite challenging. Peterson’s eyes sparkle beneath the lightning on stage as she conveys every emotion from ignorance, misunderstanding, rage, heartbreak, self-discovery and more. One thing I admired so deeply about her performance was that she had to make very bold hateful comments in her dialogue that I know she as a person doesn’t agree with and I can imagine how hard it must be to have to convey and root for someone whose ideals and morals and ethics are so vastly different from your own. Peterson and Rouse are a match in artistic heaven, and I hope to see them work tog4eher many more times in the future, because we would all be so lucky. Brava to the entire cast, including all the hardworking and amazing understudies!
In his time at LPH, Director Joe Walsh (joined by Assistant Director Russell Dunmire) made a lasting impact on many, me included. Joe created a space for everyone to be loved, unconditionally accepted and understood the way that Charles does for Eddie. One thing I always noticed in his productions is that he finds moments for each actor/ character in every show to take a breath. Whether that breath is just to themselves, with a partner, to the audience, breath and life are essential. However, when seeing “The Docent” these breaths that Eddie takes resonated to me in a different way than usual. The story is narrated by future Eddie, and past Eddie finds specific moments to interact with her future self, knowing what is yet to come, or what has already been, but what makes it that much more profound is that she is a docent of trees. Trees are essential to our life, our oxygen, our eco system and as future Eddie tell the audience, even when a tree can appear to be already dead due to its outward appearance that isn’t always the case. Trees feel, move, breathe, exhale and when their time has come to an end, they are a community-based species, that will transfer every single drop of nutrients it has left, down through its roots into the soil to allow the other trees surrounding it to continue to grow and thrive. Which I believe is what will continue to happen at LPH post Walsh’s departure, his love infected so many that it continues to ripple through our artistic community.
I don’t want to give away too much of the story, because it really is such a special work of art! I guarantee that you will giggle out loud, wiggle to the music in your seat, cry your eyes out and relate to every single second of the show. This is the world premiere production, for playwright Donna Kaz and I could easily see it on big stages all over the world. LPH has created a special production, with special people, in a really special place and I know this is just another chapter in Lakewood Playhouse’s historic gallery that we will all continue to witness as their docent.
Grab tickets for the final weekend, bring all of your friends, horticulturists, enemies and get your early voting ballot in today, so we can continue to protect things like live and local arts!
The Docent runs on stage at Lakewood Playhouse through October 25. For more information, including ticket availability and sales, visit https://www.lakewoodplayhouse.org/.
Photo credit: Ashley Roy-Simpson
