‘Shutting Up Peggy Lee’ at West End Studio Theatre

“It’s exactly what I want to say right now,” Susan Poulin said one day after unveiling her most recent solo show, “Shutting Up Peggy Lee.” Poulin’s latest act is noticeably different from the majority of her original productions. For the last 16 years, she has been portraying a number of humorous and wacky characters, including her most well-known creation, Ida. While still containing its fair share of humor, “Shutting Up Peggy Lee” is a far more introspective journey through Poulin’s own struggle to find the meaning of life. The play premiered at Portsmouth’s West End Studio Theatre last weekend.

Initially, Poulin’s onstage journey is spurred by Peggy Lee’s annoyingly depressing song, “Is That All There Is?” The song was a huge hit when recorded in 1969 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. Despite its popularity, the song sporadically plagues Poulin’s existence. 

“Is that all there is?” Poulin asks onstage. She can’t seem to shake the daunting question, whether alone or in the company of friends. After numerous attempts to evade the subject, Poulin decides it is time to address the issue with honest courage, knowing that the eventual answer might not be what she was hoping for.

Poulin’s exploration humorously begins with a Google search for the meaning of life. This move seems to mock today’s technologically driven society, but it also serves the purpose of organizing Poulin’s winding journey.  

Her first few stabs at the problem include religion and spirituality, but they prove to be dead ends, as Poulin lacks the background and patience to reach a deeper understanding of either. These failed attempts and initial doubts regarding life’s ambiguous meaning contain the majority of the show’s humor. They also mark the approximate halfway point of the show, which runs for 75 minutes with no intermission.

The second half is a much more thought-provoking and introspective examination of life—more specifically, Poulin’s life. A native of rural Maine, Poulin grew up in a tight-knit family filled with unconditional love. Her parents and sister always gave her someone to turn to when in need of solace, but solace became hard to find when Poulin suddenly lost her mother.

The abrupt loss wasn’t easy to deal with, but as the following days gave way to months and, eventually, years, Poulin was forced to admit that life goes on. The admission only increased her feeling of insignificance. Standing alone in the middle of a relatively barren stage in Portsmouth, Poulin poses a question: If life can move on without its most cherished aspects, then what’s the point of it all?

To Poulin’s right rests a computer and a floating hand (roughly the same size as the computer) gently holding an apple. On her left sits a leather padded ottoman and another floating hand, only this one is empty. Meanwhile, a painting of Peggy Lee’s face overlooks the entire stage.

When desperately posing the question in the middle of the stage, Poulin is far enough removed from the props to appear alone and forlorn. The dim lighting and lack of distractions perfectly reflect the dark and hopeless moment.

Poulin’s spirited demeanor doesn’t allow for the moment to last for long, though. She is determined to battle this ebb in her life’s voyage. She eventually comes to an answer befitting her personality and life experiences, leaving the audience satisfied but not yet fully comprehending the magnitude of the message.
“I want people to leave talking about the ideas,” Poulin said after the premier.      

“Shutting Up Peggy Lee” makes it clear that, when willing, Poulin can transition from funny person to introspective funny person. The development illustrates her point that life doesn’t necessarily have to be filled with grandeur and positivism.

While portions of the show seem long and drawn out, especially when she tries to exaggerate the exasperating aspects of religion and spirituality, for the most part, the performance is entertaining and addresses topics worth contemplating long after the show is over.

“Shutting Up Peggy Lee” will run at the West End Studio Theatre, 959 Islington St., Portsmouth, for one more weekend, Friday, April 4 to Sunday, April 6. The Friday and Saturday shows start at 8 p.m. and the Sunday show begins at 3 p.m. To make reservations, call 207-384-4526. Tickets are $20, $18 for students and seniors. For more information, visit www.poolyle.com.