SWEET AIR – The McCadden Place Theatre
Reviewed by Amalisha HuEck
Valentine’s Day night. It’s freezing outside. Robbie (Jenni Chiramonte), a formal dental assistant, comes to the subway station dragging something like – an oxygen tank, which she borrowed from the dental office just for fun. The space is perfectly set–the bench, the floor signs, the trash cans full of trash, the garbage all around and the movie posters, with hilarious graffiti. No doubt, they are at the NYC subway station. Shortly after, Galen (Shaun Bedgood), arrives visibly frustrated. He is talking back to the speaker announcing that the train is approaching, which then does not stop. The story of two strangers meeting at the subway station at 3:00 am on Valentine’s ‘Day, dealing with obvious heartbreaks, might have various endings.
Galen, suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), immediately releases the distress by cleaning the subway station and finding a home for every single piece of trash thrown on the floor, filling the trash cans even more. Robbie is relaxed, super charming and curiously asking personal questions, which annoys Galen at first, but her charm and curiosity overtake him and by having nothing to do, they strike a fun, comic and entertaining conversation. Two strangers openly cross personal boundaries and reveal their secrets in a most natural, sincere way. That is easy to do when you think that you will never see each other again.
An excellent idea, cleverly written by Matt Morillo, is intriguing, engaging, emotional and is giving actors great material to explore and many laughs to all of us in the audience. The characters are clear, deeply explored and successfully portrayed. The chemistry between the two actors is there and acting skills combined with compassion and platonic comedy produce a charming and heart opening performance. The gentle music numbers combined with light choreography are enlightening.
Presented by Ryan J. Whitlock and under Katie Oliver’s direction with appropriate lighting and sound design by Miles Berman, and soothing music score of ‘Sweet Air Medley’ by Jenni Chiaramonte, the production of Sweet Air is a wonderful intro into what just might happen on our Valentine’s Day. The play debuted at the 2025 Hollywood Fringe Festival. The rest of creatives in this production are Matt Morillo (Executive Producer), Katie Oliver (Choreography), Miles Berman (Stage Manager), Sasha Barrett (Assistant Stage Manager), Nikki Marie (Social Media Manager), Kiff Scholl, AFK Design (Graphic design), and Philip Sokoloff (Press Representative).
‘Given that Sweet Air takes place in a subway station, the play’s title might be considered ironic. Sweet air is also the street name for nitrous oxide (laughing gas), sometimes used recreationally. But sweet air may be what two strangers who encounter each other at 3 am on a freezing morning after Valentine’s Day will find as dawn finally approaches and a new day will begin.’
A new comedy, Sweet Air, runs through February 15, 2026, on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 3:00 p.m., at McCadden Place Theatre, 1157 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood, CA 90038. Admission is $25. Running time is 80 minutes.
Suggested for audiences 14 to adult.
Tickets at: http://sweetairplay.com