"Lungs"
Tipping Point Theatre
Northville, Mich.
May 10, 2025
“Lungs” is quite the apropos title for Tipping Point Theatre’s latest play, which opened last week and plays until June 1. The two-person show, written by Duncan Macmillan, features about 90 minutes of continuous dialogue, spoken between an unnamed couple over the course of several decades. It explores the complexities of being in a long-term relationship set against a running theme of conservation, specifically, the environmental ramifications of bringing a child into this world – another reference to “Lungs” and their need for clean air.
Director Julia Glander manages to stage the actors in a way that captures the intimate conversations between these two people – conversations not meant for the public eye – while making the characters accessible to the audience. The effect is like being a fly on the wall, eavesdropping on a very natural, unpolished conversation between two people who love each other but must still face the challenges of everyday life.
A central part of their conversation is whether to have a child, noting that the most environmentally-friendly choice would be to not add another person to the planet – which adds 10,000 tons of C02 to the world, according to the show.
On the other hand, the male character notes that the two of them are intelligent, good people, and maybe they should procreate to balance out the thoughtless idiots who have no reservations in contributing to the gene pool. It’s an“Idiocracy”-like dialogue that, again, is a closed-door conversation that is somewhat problematic but also an honest reflection of many people’s inner thoughts.
Highlighting the environmental concerns of the couple – and perhaps the very raw nature of their dialogue – is a simple set full of plants and empty buckets placed in front of a wooden frame, like one that would form the base of a wall in a house, plus a literal pile of dirt in the center. In her director's note, Glander said their set design brought them to a nursery, a play on the room where children are nurtured, as well as where plants are grown. Their costumes are also simple, earthy and, apparently, thrifted to keep the production itself environmentally conscious.
Glander’s staging takes full advantage of the small stage and props. The characters continually move the buckets and plants around or walk between the wooden planks, which both maintain visual interest while also subtly guide the passage of time. The dirt itself emphasizes the couple’s interest in environmentalism while amplifying their emotions as they engage with it – grabbing fistfuls, kicking it or even cuddling on it.
Kristin Shields is fantastic as the female lead. The character is intelligent, passionate and charmingly neurotic – often talking in a mile-a-minute stream of consciousness, analyzing every aspect of an idea when making a decision. While her unedited words can sometimes be hurtful, they’re never intended to be. Shields’ deliverance captures the character’s delightful quirks that highlight her appeal to her partner, whose patience is often tested. Her ability to memorize the sheer amount of dialogue and deliver it at its “Gilmore Girls”-esque pace was impressive, and it was great to see such a complex and interesting female character on stage, one my own high energy, overthinking and, perhaps, overly loquacious self could relate to.
As the male lead, Connor Allston is a strong balance to his partner’s high-strung energy. You watch him evolve from a well-meaning but somewhat weak, hesitant person, unaware of how to meet his partner’s needs, to becoming the strong man she can fully depend on.
Specific to this production, Glander added cellist Laurie Jarski, who provided subtle background sounds and music to intensify the moment at hand. Jarski wrote the music herself and performed with skill and understanding of the tone of the scene. My friend loved the addition, though I’m a bit neutral and think the show would have been fine without it as well.
When much of modern life is polished on social media or filtered in polite conversation, “Lungs” is a refreshing glimpse at what real human relationships can look like, warts and all.
