A Conversation with Director Sally Hughes on the Occasion of "DEAR AUNTIE B" at The Actors Company (Little Theater) During the Hollywood Fringe Festival, by James Scarborough

"DEAR AUNTIE B," directed by Sally Hughes and written/performed by Becca Lustgarten, explores love and grief through the lens of Auntie B, an Upper West Side advice columnist faced with a life-changing crisis. The play navigates her public persona and private turmoil, using her role as a cultural commentator and dating guru as a facade that slowly unravels.

Hughes balances the contradictions within Auntie B’s character—her outward flamboyance and inner vulnerability. This duality is central to the play's narrative. It is amplified through staging and dialogue that bounces between witty banter and profound sadness. The setting of Manhattan serves not just as a backdrop but as a character itself, reflecting the isolating yet dynamic nature of Auntie B’s world.

The play is enriched by its engagement with mental health issues. Hughes does not shy away from the complexities of grief. No, she weaves them into the storyline. This helps the audience to peel off the layers of Auntie B's pain beyond her public persona.

"DEAR AUNTIE B" reflects on the spectacle of grief and the search for authenticity in a superficial world. Under Hughes’ direction, the play critiques and pays homage to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of profound loss.

JS: What was your initial reaction to Becca Lustgarten's script for "DEAR AUNTIE B"? What made you decide to direct it?

SH: I was immediately blown away by how Becca was able to blend humor, levity, and wit with devastating tragedy. The Auntie B she created brings us into her world with such charm and candor, but when we find out what she’s really going through we get to see a totally different, darker side. I was excited to play with that juxtaposition.

JS: The play’s a musical dramedy. How do you blend these elements to enhance the storytelling, particularly in the context of Auntie B's emotional journey?

SH: The musical elements of the show work in two big ways for me: first, they underscore the nuances of B’s larger than life personality, allowing us to snuggle into her mind right away. Secondly, the (mostly) upbeat songs create an intriguing contrast with her struggle.

JS: Auntie B lives in Manhattan. How do you recreate this location in a Los Angeles theater setting?

SH: Becca and I lived in New York for a while before moving west, and we’ve spent a lot of time on the Upper West Side where B lives, so we both knew the vibe we were going for. I wanted to make sure the audience senses the environment from the beginning without getting too complicated with set pieces and such. The set is simple, with only pieces that can do double duty in creating the atmosphere and streamlining the set up and tear down before and after each performance. It is Fringe, after all! Projections will also play a role in defining B’s apartment, and the audience will definitely hear some quintessentially New York soundscapes. 

JS: You portray Auntie B as a vibrant character who faces serious personal challenges. How do you represent her complex emotional states through the production’s staging and performance?

SH: Since B is speaking directly to us, the audience, for most of the show, we become her scene partner essentially. There are times when she is drawn towards us, letting us in on her thoughts and machinations, and in those moments I want her to be physically open to us. In her moments of confident ruminations, she is able to work the room like the best of them, but when we discover what she is really going through, she doesn’t let us in so easily, and her presence in the space changes.

JS: The play tackles themes of love and grief. How do its musical elements help to portray these complex emotions?

SH: Music hits straight to the heart for most of us. Although much of the music you’ll hear in the show isn’t what is typically associated with deep emotional turmoil, Becca’s extraordinary vocal and musical talent creates a deeper understanding of Auntie B’s struggle.

JS: How has your long-standing collaborative relationship with Becca Lustgarten influenced the development and direction of the play?

SH: We have known each other for so long that, yes, we can sometimes finish each other's sentences. Which certainly helps in collaboration when my brain is mush and I can’t find the word for what I mean! We met our freshman year in Boston University’s College of Fine Arts’ acting program, so we have a similar artistic language that was created out of that training. That language as well as the personal bond that we have as friends makes for a wonderfully fun and fruitful shorthand in the room.

JS: How does the character of Auntie B reflect or challenge contemporary societal norms around advice columnists and cultural commentators?

SH: I love that Auntie B has no shame in her game. She doesn’t worry about being too blunt or too controversial or anything like that. She speaks from her experience, which is certainly different from most of her readers’ experiences, but for her there is just no other way to be. In our era of “cancel culture” and such, her unabashed honesty is quite refreshing.

JS: How did your specific directorial decisions deepen the audience's connection with the storyline and characters?

SH: Well I can only hope that is indeed the result, but my aim was to focus a lot on pacing to create a ride with twists and turns at just the right moments. At first you’re on a fun, boozy themed train ride around the park and then there’s a Tower of Terror-like drop.

JS: What do you want the audience to take away from Auntie B's struggles and revelations throughout the play?

SH: While Auntie B is ready to shout her dating advice from the rooftops, she’s much less candid with her grief. I think we can all relate to that. How we cope when we’re suffering is extremely personal, and whether audience members agree or disagree with how B handles things, I hope it encourages them to think about the “expectations” of grief, if you will. How it can look from the outside, how others want it to look, how the grieving hope it looks. And how those expectations can affect healing and continuing on. 

JS: How will "Dear Auntie B" influence your future projects?

SH: If there is more life ahead for Auntie B, I want to be there for all of it! Working with Becca has helped me find my voice as a director. And as for other projects, I’m excited to tackle more stories about complex, flawed, and thought-provoking characters.

TAKEAWAYS

Hughes was captivated by Becca Lustgarten's ability to mix humor, levity, and wit with devastating tragedy in the script. The character of Auntie B draws the audience in with her charm and candor, only to reveal a darker, more complex side. This juxtaposition allows for a nuanced exploration of Auntie B's emotional journey, making the storytelling rich and multifaceted.

The musical elements underscore Auntie B's vibrant personality and create a contrast with her inner struggles. Hughes' directorial decisions, such as using projections and soundscapes to evoke Manhattan and focusing on Auntie B's physical openness and reservedness, help to deepen the audience's connection with the character and the story line. These choices enhance the portrayal of Auntie B's complex emotional states, blending dramedy with musical elements effectively.

The play addresses contemporary societal norms through Auntie B's unapologetic honesty, challenging the expectations of advice columnists and cultural commentators in the era of "cancel culture." Hughes aims to provoke thought about the personal nature of coping with grief and the societal expectations surrounding it. The play encourages the audience to reflect on their own experiences and perceptions of grief, love, and societal norms, providing a fresh perspective on these universal themes.

Performances are Friday, June 07, 8:30 PM, Saturday, June 15, 4:00 PM, Sunday, June 23, 2:00 PM, Monday, June 24, 7:30 PM, and Friday, June 28, 10:00 PM. Admission is $15. The theatre is located at The Actors Company at Little Theater, 916 N. Formosa Avenue, Los Angeles, CA. 90046. For tickets, click here. For a YouTube trailer, click here.