REVIEW: ‘The Roommate’ tempts after a lifetime playing it safe

March 10, 2026

Lori Sitzabee, left, and Vanessa Hawkins headline a dark comedy about roommates. Photo courtesy of New Surry Theatre.

By Bundy Boit

In a large, well-furnished home in Iowa, two distinctly different middle-aged women become roommates. One is a goody two-shoes. The other is a scam artist who begins to teach her nefarious ways to her new roommate.

Now being staged by New Surry Theatre, “The Roommate” starts with Sharon, a lonely woman in a big house who needs someone with whom to share expenses. Her new roommate, Robyn, is at first reluctant to reveal her shady business practices, but Sharon becomes intrigued. She is drawn into a world that tackles friendship, morality and secrets. As their relationship builds, they exchange stories of their own lives.

The play deals with identity reinvention, and the temptation to break rules after a lifetime of playing it safe. The play will appeal especially to those middle-aged or older who wonder at this point in their lives “what if?”--as well as anyone who has been on the receiving end of a scam.

This drama by Jen Silverman mixes humor–sometimes dark–with serious interaction between the two characters. Sharon is ably played by veteran actor Vanessa Hawkins. Lori Sitzabee, a gifted actor and the artistic director of New Surry Theatre, plays the role of Robyn in this production directed by Ellen Lancaster.

“The Roommate” will be performed at Blue Hill Town Hall March 13, 14, 15, 20 and 21. Tickets are available on the theater’s website.

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