'Smudge'

"Smudge" by Rachel Axler

Smudge explores the relationship between hopeful young couple, Nicholas (Nickolas Ruiz) and Colby (SET Member Kate Hertz), after the birth of their child, Cassandra, who is unlike any baby they have ever seen: no limbs, one tail, and one beautiful sea green eye. Nick’s older brother Pete (Creston Cooper) tries to get to the bottom of why the parents aren’t answering the phone or sending out pictures of the new bundle of joy.

Colby and Nicholas work through the bewilderment and despair that comes when the family you have doesn’t match the one you expected. A dark, absurdist comedy written by two-time Emmy Award winner Rachel Alxer (other writing credits include Veep, Parks and Recreation, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart), Smudge examines the changing face of the American family and the limits of love and cheesecake.

"Even though this story is an unconventional genre (Surrealist? Sci-fi? Magical Realism?), it’s a metaphor for a situation that a lot of families can relate to. What happens when we don’t see ourselves fitting in these orderly little boxes on a spreadsheet? What does normal mean, anyway?” says Sarah Sheppard Shaver, founding member of Springs Ensemble Theatre. “In a very human way, this play explores discussions around postpartum depression and the challenges of having an atypical child.”