From the Charleston Post and Courier-
by Diep Tran
Watching 34 West Theater Company’s original play “We Go Everywhere Together,” about two old men and their “bucket of fish,” I was reminded of the Pixar movie “Up.” Both pieces of beautiful art are about octogenarians getting one more kick at life, showing that living la dolce vita is not only for those who are young. The good life is ageless.
"We Go Everywhere" is about two friends, George and Henry. George doesn’t hear well and Henry doesn’t see well. Together, they decide to undertake Henry’s bucket list, mislabeled as a “bucket of fish.” The list is simple: hike the Grand Canyon, skydive, sing on Broadway, speed date, and learn a foreign language. The play is based on the lives of two real friends. It's a bit cliche of a concept but the execution - doing the items in a non-linear sequence and the humorous dialogue - makes up for the flaws.
Stephen W. Baldwin and Jeffrey D. Querin play George and Henry respectively. They also wrote the play and are the creative and artistic directors of 34 West Theater.
George is prone to making bad jokes and non-sequiturs. The character could easily turn into a one-dimensional, one-joke, act but Baldwin’s performance is so winning and delightful that it’s easy to be charmed by George. And really, doesn't everyone have friends like that in real life whose sole purpose seems to be making everyone laugh, even when the jokes aren't really funny?
Consequently, George is a lovely compliment to Henry who is more cautious and less open to possibilities, despite his bucket list. George also had the potential to be grating, but Querin is able to bring out the sweetness in the character’s cautious attitude. After all, it’s not a strange thing to be afraid of the world when you’re old. In fact, it seems to be an unfortunate byproduct of aging, like bad hearing or shaky posture. But Querin is able to conquer those fears and eventually skydive and sing on stage, alongside his best friend. It’s a natural, and not overwrought development.
"We Go Everywhere" has plenty of jokes about being old. It can be a bit much at times, though not enough to be offensive to senior citizens. But the dialogue is unpretentious, a mixture of life-true aphorisms and humorous quips. At a speed-dating session, George says to a love interest, “True loves comes along only once in a lifetime. It’s like chickenpox, but in a good way.”
Such good-natured asides prevent the play from devolving into the senior citizen comedy hour or a sentimental act about life’s brevity. Instead, it’s an affirmation. That no matter what age, opportunities and wonders is limitless.
