The plot is inspired by the "What If"s we all hear echoing in our brains from time to time. How would life be different had I chosen what was behind door number one instead of door number two? Elizabeth, played by a stunning Jackie Burns, takes us down each path, and we meet one of her future selves, Liz or Beth, with each choice. It's a fun, inspiring exploration on what it means to dive into a dream or a new relationship or an ancient love.
I love the premise. I didn't always love the execution. There's extraordinary talent onstage. It was worth an evening just to see Anthony Rapp, as Elizabeth's old boyfriend, Lucas, perform. I just felt the highlights of the storyline, the excitement in the twists and turns of fate, faded through the second act. If the show had ended at intermission, honestly, I would have thought it was brilliant. The second half just felt like all of the sudden the show felt it had something to prove, had to take a gut-wrenching turn in order to drive its point home. I don't want to give anything away, but I wish tragedy hadn't been necessary in order to explore the heartache of The Path We Choose.
That said, Jackie Burns and Anthony Rapp make this show worth seeing. And if you happen to be at a crossroads of your own, bring some kleenex. The talent alone is inspiring and there were moments of pure, beautiful insight that held me rapt. What if, indeed.
If/Then plays through March 13 at the Orpheum Theatre.
