It wouldn’t be a proper family holiday if there wasn’t crying involved.
But whether you shed tears of mirth or despair changes minute to minute in the Dahl household.
Never mind the recovering alcoholics present, mom has filled a punchbowl with Manhattans!
Shailene Woodley, Zachary Quinto, Rebecca Henderson, and Christopher Sears in ‘Cult of Love’.Joan Marcus
Within minutes of being in the Dahl family living room, the wounds begin to emerge.
Meanwhile, Cullman has orchestrated a 10-character play that glides forward, never stumbling.
The hymnals do begin to feel overlong, not helped by their repetitive nature.
Rebecca Henderson and Roberta Colindrez in ‘Cult of Love’.Joan Marcus
But then, isn’t that the point?
But humanity wins out.
“Stop talking to me like that,” she at one point begs Diana.
Zachary Quinto and Shailene Woodley in ‘Cult of Love’.Joan Marcus
“Talk to me like my sister.”
Do they walk away or agree to come back next year?
Do they still owe each other something, or owe themselves the chance to build something new?
‘Cult Of Love’.Joan Marcus
The questions are unspoken, but loudly asked, as the play earns its title.
There is still perhaps quite distantly the glow of the past, calling them back like a beacon.
We were happy and together.
Why can’t that be us again?"
