Review: ‘Thank You for Your Order’ at Brewery Arts Complex
- Dondre Tuck
- Aug 3
- 3 min read
“Thank You for Your Order” by Jessica Moss — which wrapped up its run at the Brewery Arts Complex on July 28 — is an offbeat, coming-of-age comedy that follows Jocelyn, an eccentric Amazon delivery rep who moves in with a minimalist couple and immediately starts stirring the pot. She encourages Matty to indulge in consumerism while challenging Zara’s commitment to minimalism, creating a rift in their relationship and exposing deeper tensions beneath the surface.
All three actors gave well-rounded performances. Rob Welsh as Matty begins the show as timid and unsure but evolves into a flamboyant and expressive version of himself by the end, largely due to Susan-Kate Heaney’s portrayal of Jocelyn. Their chemistry was a driving force throughout the play.
Heaney brought a vibrant chaos to Jocelyn that balanced beautifully against Elizabeth Schmidt’s Zara, who delivers a grounded and sobering performance. The contrast between Zara’s stillness and Jocelyn’s unpredictability was what made their scenes so engaging. While not every moment landed, the trio maintained solid chemistry and strong comedic timing throughout.
Tamar Halpern’s direction is refreshingly bold. Staging the show inside what feels like a home gives the piece an intimate immersive quality that makes the audience like flies on the wall. Directing a play with an audience of nearly fifty people in such a confined space is no easy task, but Tamar managed to pull it off without sacrificing clarity or momentum.
The pacing lagged a bit in the beginning, but it felt like a deliberate choice to let the absurdity simmer. Some staging moments could’ve been tighter, as I occasionally found myself staring at the back of an actor’s head, but it didn’t take away from the overall experience. Scene transitions were well executed, with music and projected visuals helping push the story forward.
Chinmayee Kharche and Luna Naseh’s set design was minimal and effective. The white couch, bland rug, empty bookcase and neutral tones mirrored the couple’s minimalist lifestyle. The home itself became the central set piece, doing most of the heavy lifting in terms of atmosphere.
Joshua Argue and Nate Hosseini delivered strong lighting work, especially in the more tense or dramatic moments. A standout was the strobe-light effect during Matty’s chase scene, which added a chaotic pulse to an already surreal moment. Kaden Rogers' projections added a fresh, stylistic layer to the show and helped shift energy between scenes.
Costumes were simple but intentional. Zara remained in plain mom jeans and a basic tee, while Jocelyn rotated through a fluorescent safety dress and tropical prints that looked straight from Amazon’s website. Matty’s wardrobe followed his transformation, evolving from neutral and drab to bold scarves and bright patterns.
Sound design, also by Argue and Hosseini, was solid and well timed. Music choices helped recap and reframe each scene. The Echo smart speaker was perfectly synced and became a subtle but crucial presence throughout the show.
At its core, “Thank You for Your Order” is a clever exploration of consumerism versus minimalism. Moss and Halpern use comedy as the Trojan horse to slip in commentary about the psychological and financial weight of overconsumption without ever feeling preachy. The play doesn’t give you answers but instead invites reflection.
The audience on July 27 stayed engaged from start to finish, with some light interaction that landed well. The show held my attention, made me laugh, and gave me something to think about. My only note would be for the actors to be mindful of turning their backs in such an intimate space. Beyond that, I was thoroughly impressed. This is a play I’d absolutely recommend.
“Thank You for Your Order” performed from July 17 to July 28 at the Brewery Arts Complex, 1920 N. Main St., Los Angeles. For more information, visit InHouseTheatre.org.
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