"Distracted" presented by Roundabout Theatre Company at the Laura Pels Theatre, March 19, 2009Cynthia Nixon makes a delightful return to the NY stage in Lisa Loomer's opus on the subject the spreading diagnosis of ADHD and the effects of medicating indiscriminately. The play gets a bit preachy from time to time, but does raise an interesting question or two about how much of one's personality can or should be medicated into conformity. Ms. Loomer breaks the fourth wall a good bit seeming to have run out of ways to cram in all the exposition she requires to tell her story. The cast is generally strong, lead by Ms. Nixon. Shana Dowdeswell gives a nice performance as the neighbor's daughter Natalie. Director Mark Brokaw certainly keeps things moving apace, helped by Ms. Loomer's expedient script.
Tal Yarden's projection design works well with Mark Wendland's sets, the bright colors adding to a visual overstimulation that could bring on ADHD by itself.
