[rating=4]Garbage! Why would anyone write a play where the main characters are “garbage men” ( excuse the gender bender, but I know not what else one might call them). In fact, does anyone recall a character in any main stream play or movie or even a TV show where one of the main guys is a “garbage man”?. Of course you do. Denzel Washington in August Wilson’s “Fences”. How about a sanitation worker? Ed Norton , The upstairs neighbor and best buddy to Ralph Kramden on “The Honeymooners”. These are the unseen heroes of our world.Now, Lindsay Joelle has written a play, albeit a short one ( 88 minutes) called “The Garbologists” now onstage at Northlight Theatre. Ms Joelle is a native of the North Shore so it is fitting that a play of hers be produced on one of our North Shore stages.

Garbage trucks are in our lives every day. They either are picking up our trash or stalling traffic as we go about our daily routines. In her story, we are in New York where they have no alleys thus the garbage is placed  on the curb close to the street. Anyone who has lived or visited knows how unsightly a vision this is. The set for this production done by Collette Pollard ( who also did the projections) truly appears to be lots of garbage and the front end and rear end of a Garbage truck. The two “Garbologists” in this story are Danny ( deftly handled by Luigi Sottile) and his new partner Marlowe ( Tiffinay Renee Johnson is terrific). They are complete opposites of each other in spirit and in general.

Danny is going through a tough divorce and has been handling garbage for years. The newbies are placed with him so he can “break them in” as he says, or is it to get to the bottom of who he is? In other words, is he being checked on?

The story, smoothly directed by Cody Estle is what happens when two people who are so different from each other get thrown together? There are many sanitation workers who make more than college grads without all the student loans. In this story, Marlowe is doing the job to earn more while Danny needs to earn as much as possible to pay off the lawyers handling his divorce and custody battles. These people deal with the black bags of society that are the remains of what those who toss them out had yesterday.

If you have ever moved, you know that many of the plastic bags at your curb are memories ( some good, some bad) that you have opted not to take with you to your new home. The garbage men in many cases, take those items and sell or use them. In our story, we learn that the two workers have different ideas as to who these items belong to and we even find one or two of great value to them along the way. Is it right to keep the items? Better yet, is it right to sell the items and pocket the money?

Marlowe’s life is not an easy one either and as the story progresses we learn more about her and how the big “C” has cost her lots of money. During this period of her life, it was a garbage man that might have made a difference. In fact we learn that the two opposites have had a previous connection and what seems like an unlikely story turns out to be one of charm, comedy, love and friendship. For 90 minutes you will not think of garbage as the stuff in the black bags in your garage or on your driveway waiting for pick-up. You will not think of those guys who take it away as low-life’s or scavengers. They are essential workers who we need more than ever.

Maybe after watching this play you will think about the items that you toss as junk and consider them as somebody else’s treasure.

“The Garbologists” will continue at Northlight Theatre Thru – Oct 2 with performances as follows:

Wednesdays:1:00pm & 7:30pm