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Joseph Cillo

Six Degrees of Separation

By January 31, 2025February 5th, 2025No Comments

A Con, a Couple, and a Whole Lot of Trouble

Sonoma Arts Live puts on a well-acted, professionally mounted production of Six Degrees of Separation, a play that’s as slick as its con-man protagonist—and just as unsettling. Directed by Libby Oberlin, this one isn’t your standard night of lighthearted theater. No, sir. This is a sharp-edged, fast-talking, morally murky piece of work that’ll have you laughing one minute and shifting uncomfortably in your seat the next.

At the center of the chaos is Paul, played with a whole lot of charm (and just enough menace) by Jonathen Blue. He’s a smooth operator who shows up battered and broke on the doorstep of a wealthy Manhattan couple, claiming to be Sidney Poitier’s long-lost son. He dazzles them, he wins them over, and then—well, things go sideways fast.

Flan and Ouisa Kittredge, the couple Paul manipulates, are played by Larry Williams and Mary Samson, respectively. Williams gives Flan the perfect mix of status-seeking vanity and barely concealed desperation, while Samson’s Ouisa evolves from amused hostess to a woman haunted by what Paul’s deception reveals about her own life. Together, this trio commands the stage, driving home the play’s biting commentary on privilege, trust, and self-delusion.

The supporting cast delivers strong performances, with Lukas Raphael as both Geoffrey and Dr. Fine, Felizia Rubio as Elizabeth and Ben, and Jake Druzgala taking on Woody and Rick. Tim Setzer adds depth as the Detective and Doorman, while Pilar Gonzales brings sharp energy to Tess Kittredge. Rounding out the ensemble, Beth Ellen Ethridge and Sean O’Brien portray Kitty and Larkin, further enriching the play’s web of intrigue and deception.

Oberlin’s direction keeps it moving at a crisp clip, with dialogue that pops and a pace that never lags. The humor is sharp, the tension real, and the whole thing wraps up leaving you wondering: Who’s really fooling who?

Now, fair warning—this play might not be your cup of tea. If you like your theater with clear-cut heroes and tidy moral lessons, this one may leave you squirming. But if you appreciate a play that’s as thought-provoking as it is unsettling, you’ll find plenty to chew on here.

Performances Through February 16, 2025

Andrews Hall, Sonoma Community Center (276 East Napa Street, Sonoma, CA 95476)

Show Days & Times

  • Thursdays & Fridays – 7:30 PM
  • Saturdays – 7:30 PM
  • Sundays – 2:00 PM

How to Get Tickets

Ticket Prices

  • Riser Seats – $42 | Floor Seats – $37
  • Balcony (General Admission) – $25
  • Thrifty Thursdays & Special First Saturdays (All Seats) – $25

More Info: Sonoma Arts Live Website | Facebook

Go see it. But don’t say you weren’t warned.