Maryland Ensemble Theatre’s latest production, Clyde’s, is an exploration of second chances, survival, and the personal journey of daring to dream.
At the center of the story is Clyde, played with ferocity and depth by MET Ensemble member Rona Mensah. A formerly incarcerated woman now running a truck stop sandwich shop, Clyde hires others with similar pasts, but does so with a hardened edge, projecting her own self-loathing onto the people she employs. She rules her kitchen with strictness, not just to maintain control, but because she doesn’t believe in redemption — even for herself.
Directed by Rikki Howe, what sets this production apart is its refusal to offer easy answers. Clyde’s belief that people like her are doomed to remain on the margins colors every interaction. She meets with investors, tries to push the business forward, but her internal fear of inadequacy bleeds into how she leads: harsh, mean, and incapable of affirming the growth she sees in others.
Ray Hatch brings grace and groundedness to Montrellous, the kitchen’s spiritual guide. With quiet wisdom and unwavering hope, Montrellous inspires the team to see sandwich-making as an art form, a metaphor for life itself. He’s the herald, the one who believes that beauty and transformation are still within reach, even when chaos and discouragement threaten his efforts.
Jason, played with aching vulnerability by Sean Besecker, is the newest member of the team; he’s angry, guarded, and ashamed of his past. His journey from withdrawal to willingness to rebuild is one of the show’s most affecting arcs. Through his coworkers, he finds the space to begin again and believe, however cautiously, that he’s worthy of something more.
The electric chemistry between Nadia Palacios as Rafael and Gifty Amponsem as Letitia adds spark and unpredictability. Letitia’s sharp tongue clashes and dances with Rafael’s playfulness, making their scenes a lively contrast to the play’s heavier themes.
Ultimately, Clyde’s is about the fragile pursuit of self-worth and the idea that everyone deserves a life with meaning. What does it take to believe in better?
Maryland Ensemble Theatre delivers a production that is bold, beautifully acted and staged, and deeply moving. Clyde’s reminds us that healing is messy, dreams take work, and sometimes, salvation can be found in people, a job, oneself, or between two pieces of bread.
Clyde’s runs through Sunday June 15. Performances are at 8:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 3:00 p.m. on Sundays. The show runs approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. Audio description services can be arranged through the box office.
Tickets can be purchased by phone at (301) 694-4744, online at www.marylandensemble.org, or in person at the MET box office, open Tuesday to Thursday, 12 – 6 p.m., Fridays 12 – 4 p.m. and one hour before performances.
About Maryland Ensemble Theatre
We are a professional, collaborative theatre ensemble broadly connected to our community by inspiring passion for the arts with courageous, relevant, accessible programs that enable people to feel more, think deeper, and laugh longer.
To learn more about MET, visit www.marylandensemble.org. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @MarylandEnsemblefor the latest updates and to join the conversation.
Photo Credit: MET