Lyric’s ‘Rooted’: A woman planted in the trees

By Rich Fahey

BOSTON – Sometimes people are like plants. They are born, live and die on the same plot of land and rarely journey very far from it. Even when they want to.

For two middle-aged sisters, the situation becomes very complicated indeed when one takes up residence in a treehouse, where she observes the behavior of plants and posts her observations on the internet.

The other sister has been trapped for many years in a dead-end job, But when the tree-bound sister’s videos go viral, the resulting cult-like frenzy provides a possible way out.

Playwright Deborah Zoe Laufer’s “Rooted,” now at the Lyric Stage Company of Boston, starts with a promising and original idea and touches on many themes —  family, isolation, celebrity culture, climate change —  but tends to wander about while exploring them, and the result is uneven.

“Rooted” was commissioned to be the companion piece for Laufer’s “Be Here Now,” which was produced by the Lyric in  2021  and was the first live production at the theater after an 18-month shutdown due to the pandemic. Both are part of a planned trilogy of plays set in a fictionalized version of the rural New York town in the Catskills where Laufer grew up.

Laufer is a skilled playwright. In “Be Here Now,” she paired two damaged souls who experience unexpected happiness and it worked, featuring fine performances by Samantha Richert and Barlow Adamson.

Both “Be Here Now” and “Rooted” feature one of Laufer’s strengths: conjuring up quirky, interesting characters, at least some of whom were inspired by residents of her hometown.

In the small town of Millerville, middle-aged Emery Harris (Lisa Tucker) has been living alone in a treehouse named Mabel for 20 years, documenting the “behaviors” of about a dozen plants she researches, names, and talks to.

Lest you think she is a Luddite, she then posts videos on YouTube about her findings, and the videos have generated thousands of followers.  

Her only connection to the outside world is her sister Hazel (Karen MacDonald), who supports Emery with a dead-end waitressing job at the local diner where she hates every minute.

The character of Emery itself demands a giant leap of faith from the theater-goer.  Emery never went to school and for 20 years has isolated herself from the outside world. She eats poorly – no wonder there.

She can only get around with the aid of a walker, which may or not be related to the other assorted paranoias she’s already toting around.

Emery is content in her world while Hazel dreams of going somewhere – anywhere – where demanding customers and lousy tips aren’t part of the equation.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, their lives are turned upside down when a crowd gathers below the treehouse.

The chanting and singing coming from below sounds like Hare Krishna meets New Age Cult. Instead of fishing for tips, Hazel merely has to lower a bucket down to the crowd asking for contributions to the cause – whatever it is — and then haul the bucket back up and count the proceeds. Suddenly the possibility of a way out of her present life is flashing before her eyes.

But that way out is terrifying for Emery, who only wishes the crowds to disperse lest they disturb her and her delicate plants. She won’t cooperate by addressing the masses below; she won’t play the messiah.

The character of young fulfillment center worker Luanne McDonald  (Katherine Callaway) seemed to fit better in “Be Here Now” than she does here, where she is injured by the surging crowd and is allowed by Emery into the treehouse.

Luanne is open and engaging and makes a connection with Emery. But as they bond — about 80 minutes into a 100-minute production without an intermission — the play comes almost to a dead stop. Even a treehouse needs some pruning.  About 10-15 minutes could be shaved with the message remaining intact.

“Rooted” is a case where the result, unfortunately, isn’t equal to the sum of its parts. The cast is strong; MacDonald rarely gives a bad performance. There’s a talented director in Lyric Stage Artistic Director Courtney O’Connor, who also directed “Be Here Now.” Add a first-rate design team led by Janie E. Howland, who has crafted some remarkable sets in the intimate Lyric Stage space – who can forget her Southern sitting room in “The Little Foxes”   —  and scores again with her treehouse, with its large leafy overhanging branch that sets the tone for the entire production.

“Rooted” has its moments. Just not enough of them.

The Lyric Stage Company of Boston production of “Rooted.” Written by Deborah Zoe Laufer. Directed by Courtney O’Connor. Scenic Design by Janie E. Howland, Costume Design by Chelsea Kerl, Lighting Design by Karen Perlow, Original Music and Sound Co-Design by Dewey Dellay, and Sound Co-Design by Andrew Duncan Will. At the Lyric Stage Company of Boston through June 25. Lyricstage.com.