My interest in seeing Berkeley Rep’s new production of Jake Brasch’s semi-autobiographical play “The Reservoir” heightened after I read several positive reviews and one that was very negative. “What causes such a vast difference of opinion?” I wondered. Having seen the two-act comedic-drama on September 17, one week after it opened, I better understand the disparity of views.
Protagonist and narrator, Josh (nicely acted by Ben Hirschhorn), is a queer Jewish NYU theater major who returns to his Denver hometown after yet another drunken bender. He’s bright, immature, and self-indulgent. Josh glibly talks to the audience using what he hopes passes for witty banter, but his frenetic chatter is covering his neuroses and insecurities.
Josh’s long-suffering, stern, but loving mother (excellent Brenda Withers) takes him in and finds him a job at the local bookstore. Luckily, Josh continues to be forgiven by those around him. Even the bookstore manager forgives Josh’s failure to do basic alphabetizing, possibly caused by his alcohol-scrambled brain.
In a bit of theater uniqueness, we meet Josh’s four grandparents, who sit chorus-like, in straight-backed chairs, watching and witnessing, and occasionally paraphrasing Josh’s own thoughts. Having overlooked his Nebraska Nana Irene’s descent into Alzheimer’s (she’s beautifully acted by Barbara Kingsley), Josh convinces himself that he can prevent his grandparents’ aging and dementia by making them challenge their brains, attend Jazzercise classes, and eat spinach. For Josh, it’s how one sustains a reservoir, the depository of rich life experiences that ward off dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Nana Irene’s husband Hank (Michael Cullen) is silent, perhaps despondent, or depressed. Grandpa “Shrimpy” (Peter Van Wagner), presented as an oversexed Jewish jokester, is an unfortunate caricature. Although from different backgrounds, all the grandparents love their “Joshie” and go along with his DIY program through the first act. Unhappily, this not-very-amusing bit, a distraction from Josh’s own drinking problem, goes on way too long.
Finally, in Act II, Grandma Bev (fantastic Pamela Reed) steps up, reveals her own alcoholism to Josh, and supports him in attaining sobriety. A no-nonsense electrical engineer, Bev sees through Josh’s evasions and gives him the tough love he needs. Unlike the other three grandparents, Bev treats Josh like an adult.
I now understand the reason for the dichotomy of reviews. “The Reservoir” has many positive attributes, but some big negatives. Mike Donahue’s direction was bold, the staging and scenic design were inventive, and the use of the grandparents’ chorus was creative. And there was one final scene that presented genuine emotion.
That aside, the cringeworthy portrayal of aging fell short on accuracy and sympathy. One minor example of some of the very tired, unfunny, ageist jokes: older people not knowing how to use a phone.
I never grew to like Josh as a character, and found his patter more sitcom-level than genuinely witty. And we never gained insight into the cause of his alcoholism — what made him tick. Nevertheless, playwright Brasch’s portrayal of his college years of alcoholism, guilt, and hurt is a brave undertaking.
By Emily S. Mendel
© Emily S. Mendel 2025 All Rights Reserved emilymendel@gmail.com
