The Climb: What Is Really Seen When We Look at a Photograph?

The final show of InterAct’s 2023-2024 season, which featured all women playwrights, is The Climb by C.A. Johnson.

The thought-provoking story follows Marge, a professor of photography (played by Sam Rosentrater) and her sole subject for the last seven years, her wife and former student, Tiffany (Ciera Gardner). As Tiffany embarks on a 30 day hiking trip to get away for a bit, Marge takes on a student apprentice, Bella (played by Claris Park). At the same time, Tiffany befriends fellow hiker, Ike (played by Trevor William Fayle). Ike and Bella are both pushy at first as they interfere with Marge and Tiffany, but ultimately their encounters make both Marge and Tiffany reevaluate their relationship during the month-long separation.

A lot of questions are asked and the characters struggle to find their footing. What do we really see when we look at a photograph? Did the artist and the muse have the same interpretation? Do we? And when you step away from your normal routine, how do you feel? Empty? Or refreshed? The Climb is a good look at how we view our most cherished relationships and what we take from them. Are we letting the other person tell their own story?

Performances of The Climb, directed by Catharine Slusar, take place now through June 23rd at The Proscenium Theatre at The Drake. For tickets and showtimes, visit https://www.interacttheatre.org/theclimb