![\"Scientist](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/TFL-Z-THEATER-BURST-2-01.jpg\")
Scientist Jennifer (Mary Gundlach)\u00a0and CEO Sarah (Nicole Hulitt) in “Burst,” running through July 26 at Island City Stage in Wilton Manors.\u00a0(Kevin Ondarza\/Courtesy)<\/p>\nFury, frustration, deception, integrity, ambition and amorality combine and collide in a super-charged spiral downward that cements a cuttingly wry satire, liberally seasoned with chuckles and giggles, in New City Players\u2019 all-too-well-titled \u201cBurst.\u201d<\/p>\n
Savor the intersection of Rachel Bublitz\u2019s insightful script, the tireless, high-energy performances of three actresses, and Elizabeth Price\u2019s superb direction that defines the adjectives vital and kinetic.<\/p>\n
This tongue-in-cheek rebuking tells of a company that claims it\u2019s discovered a way to create fully biodegradable plastic, thereby revolutionizing the ecology of our future.<\/p>\n
The problem is that the two ceiling-shattering women behind the fast-rising company actually haven\u2019t quite got the problem licked. But the hard-charging CEO, Sarah, not only publicizes the success but is close to a major deal with Colgate-Palmolive \u2014 while suing their mentor claiming widespread use is impossible.<\/p>\n
Jennifer, the technology wizard, has no desire to lie about any of it in the lawsuit hearing tomorrow or to hard-charging journalist Alexis, who is coming to interrogate them in their office late tonight.<\/p>\n
Relationships and situations are not what they seem, and several secrets slip toward revelation \u2014 leading to various definitions of \u201cburst.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pertinence reflects our 21st century because of the technological and ecological aspects. But the punch is further applicable for its indictment of how greed and ambition have eroded and even erased integrity.<\/p>\n
And still, the journey is punctuated by audience laughter. And further still, appropriately muddling the criticism, Sarah is partly motivated by hopes and dreams for the benefit of mankind.<\/p>\n
Obviously, the citation of plastic delightfully resonates beyond the polymer into a rebuke of modern America\u2019s shallow, disposable ethos. To ensure its thematic prominence, the set of Sarah\u2019s office is eloquently backed by an overwhelming stage-length wall crammed, jammed by the millimeter, with what must be a couple of thousand soda bottles, detergent packages, pill bottles and water jugs. (During the production run-up, New City Players asked people on Facebook to help provide enough items to finish filling up the enclosures for opening night.)<\/p>\n
Two aspects are especially memorable: One is the regularly recurring fusion of playwright, actress and director that frequently has Sarah instantly \u2014 and we mean instantly \u2014 snapping from one personality to another, one voice to another, and then to yet another with barely a twist of her body, underscoring the shallow insincerity of everything she says and does.<\/p>\n
Scientist Jennifer (Mary Gundlach)\u00a0and CEO Sarah (Nicole Hulitt) in “Burst,” running through July 26 at Island City Stage in Wilton Manors.\u00a0(Kevin Ondarza\/Courtesy)<\/p>\n
All three actresses skillfully do this, but Nicole Hulett\u2019s diva-worthy transmuting is mouth-dropping as the tightly wound, borderline monster ricochets from Jekyll to Hyde to Sybil in a moment. She can be chummy then vindictive, iron-willed to plaintive, faux earnest in her polished practice speeches for the coming court hearing, then chillingly pragmatic.<\/p>\n
Mary Gundlach nails the role of a devoted scientist who is not socially smooth nor receptive to the clues of Sarah\u2019s duplicity. Dayana Morales is the investigative reporter who coats her interrogation with manufactured charm and smiles.<\/p>\n
The other engine on this admirably paced bullet train is how Price has instilled a bottomlessly inventive use of physical movement. Many patrons won\u2019t consciously register it, but she has her actresses propel their flexible bodies, flying arms, kicking legs and \u2014 more than anything \u2014 their hands to illustrate an ever-driving flow.<\/p>\n
Bublitz\u2019s script skillfully stabs straight into the guts of the modern miasma, crystalizing in Sarah\u2019s diatribes the dismay so many of us are struggling with.<\/p>\n
For example: \u201cYou still don\u2019t get it, do you?\u2026 It does not matter that I can\u2019t change plastic! \u2026 What matters is that people can feel better about themselves. That\u2019s all anyone wants these days. Our world is literally falling to pieces, but everyone is too isolated and \u2026 lazy to do a damn thing about it, so I sell them the appearance of change \u2026 So they can use their 50 million straws from their drive-thru and not feel the guilt that they are a part of the problem \u2026 because if there\u2019s one thing people hate these days more than anything, it\u2019s the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Granted, the clashing forces in the last fourth of the evening are a trifle hard to track, but by then, many of us are happily along for the ride.<\/p>\n
\u201cBurst,\u201d presented by New City Players, runs through Sunday, July 26, at Island City Stage, 2304 N. Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors. Ticket prices range from $40-$45. Purchase tickets online at newcityplayers.org<\/a>. For student and group discounts, email boxoffice@newcityplayers.org or call 954-376-6114.<\/p>\n