![\"Brittany](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/sut-l-stage-aliengirls2.jpg\")
Brittany Bradford, left, as Tiffany and Emma Ramos as Carolyn in The Old Globe\u2019s \u201cAlien Girls.\u201d (Rich Soublet II)<\/p>\nIn Amy Berryman\u2019s clever and touching new play \u201cAlien Girls,\u201d college roommates and aspiring writers Carolyn and Tiffany form a \u201cbest friends for life\u201d bond that seems unshakeable until that connection is severely tested by mutual betrayals, jealousy and artistic rivalry. And there are puppets.<\/p>\n
The 90-minute comedy-drama made its world premiere Thursday in The Old Globe\u2019s in-the-round Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre. I\u2019m not so sure the puppetry adds anything to the story, but I am sure that Berryman\u2019s in-depth examination of how female friendships change over time is truthful in a way I haven\u2019t seen onstage before.<\/p>\n
Brittany Bradford, left, as Tiffany and Emma Ramos as Carolyn in The Old Globe\u2019s \u201cAlien Girls.\u201d (Rich Soublet II)<\/p>\n
Whimsically and imaginatively directed by Jaki Bradley on a multilevel spaceship-like set designed by Jason Sherwood, the play\u2019s title comes from a galaxy-themed friendship poem that Tiffany writes for Carolyn in college.<\/p>\n
At first, the 18-year-old roomies are besties, then they\u2019re briefly lovers, until Tiffany realizes she prefers men. Years later, they settle into a comfortable routine as writing buddies who read each other\u2019s work and cheer on each others\u2019 successes.<\/p>\n
Since both characters are writers, Berryman has added a hilarious sci-fi-like element to the script where Tiffany and Carolyn are able to delete and rewrite their most regrettable sentences during live conversations.<\/p>\n
But when Tiffany gets pregnant with her first child and Carolyn simultaneously sells an essay to The New Yorker, mutual jealousy ignites. Tiffany secretly wants Carolyn\u2019s career success and freedom. And Carolyn\u2019s unrequited love for Tiffany leads her to forgive her friend\u2019s cruelty, praise her terrible writing and despise the baby she\u2019s nurturing in her womb. It\u2019s complicated and harrowing and dark and funny, and many moments \u2014 even the comically gory discussion of menstrual flow (yes, women do commmiserate on that subject) \u2014 ring true.<\/p>\n
The three-member cast are all excellent and versatile performers. As Carolyn, Emma Ramos is particularly expressive, drawing quietly on deep reserves of pain and longing. As Tiffany, Brittany Bradford can turn on a dime from hilarious (in her college open mic-night debut) to callous and cold. And Karina Curet, who plays a trio of characters in these women\u2019s lives, is a fantastic scene-stealer, particularly as the self-absorbed magazine editor Gina.<\/p>\n
The production features retro space-age lighting by Rui Rita, a contemporary pop music-infused sound design by Sinan Refik Zafar and costumes and puppet design by Helen Q. Huang.<\/p>\n
There are scenes in the play where Ramos and Bradford operate a pair of space alien puppets, but to say more would spoil the play\u2019s final twists. But as an audience member, I felt like the puppets and the alien subplot distracted from the central theme of this fascinating but deeply flawed and symbiotic friendship.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlien Girls\u201d is a fresh and unique contemporary story about friendship, family, finding your muse and wanting it all. And Berryman\u2019s script is chock full of sharp humor and gut-wrenching insights that had many women in the opening-night audience nodding frequently in affirmation.<\/p>\n
\u2018Alien Girls\u2019<\/p>\n
When: 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through May 10<\/p>\n
Where: Old Globe Theatre\u2019s Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego<\/p>\n
Tickets:\u00a0$41 and up<\/p>\n
Phone:\u00a0619-234-5623<\/p>\n