Trashy is the new classy. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati kicks off its 2024-2025 season in a most interesting way – amidst a heap of trash. As the first show of its upcoming season, The Garbologists by Lindsay Joelle, tells the story of two New York City garbage truck workers who make some notable discoveries among the discarded and among themselves. This two-person play, a tongue-in-cheek dramedy about the things that bind us together, will make its regional premiere in Cincinnati this September.
Chock-full of metaphors on the value of what we discard, the play follows Danny and Marlowe on their daily trash route in New York City. Danny, a gruff sanitation worker with a loveable interior, couldn't be more different than Marlowe, an Ivy League-educated newbie. Amidst their route, the two bicker as polar opposites tend to do, but find not only treasures among the trash but also a commonality that ties them together.
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, home to several notable regional premieres over the years, brings this show to life. The humor of beginning the season with a play about trash is not lost on director D. Lynne Meyers, who notes how drawn she is to the characters and the unique perspective within the piece.
“It’s a comedy until it isn’t. It’s more a parable of understanding…It’s about people we deal with every single day, but sometimes don’t give a thought to, and maybe this will change that,” says Meyers, the producing artistic director of the company for over 25 years. “It’s unexpected, and that’s the coolest thing about it. I was captivated by the title.”
She also noted how public perception of sanitation workers makes this show even more timely and necessary, as the play sheds light on the oft-underappreciated profession. This was notably displayed during the height of the pandemic, as sanitation workers became essential workers who kept the city clean.
“We have a tendency to take (sanitation workers’) jobs for granted. If you don’t have those people, the job doesn’t get done,” Meyers says. “I will never, ever look at a garbage truck the same way again.”
Playing the role of blue-collar worker Danny, actor Nathan Neorr is no stranger to the stage. Beyond acting in productions such as Burn This and The Diary of Anne Frank in Cincinnati, he was also recently featured in the film, The Bikeriders, which was filmed in Cincinnati alongside stars Jodie Comer and Tom Hardy. Transitioning from a major film to an intimate trash-filled stage production is no easy task, but one that Neorr says he is up to.
“This is going to be my first time ever doing (a two-person show), and it’s going to be an exciting time,” says Neorr. “(The characters) are from complete opposite sides of the spectrum, and through their journeys, they come to realize we have so much more in common than not.”
Actor and playwright Torie Wiggins, whose sharp play, Who All Over There? premiered last year at ETC, plays Marlowe. Her character is placed in a fish-out-of-water scenario as a new worker learning the ropes. The two characters’ differences overlap within the duties of their job, which Wiggins says creates an intriguing and unique story.
“I love (this show) because it’s a beautiful opportunity to see two very clear journeys,” she says. “You can root for somebody different every scene. I think it’s going to make us think about how we perceive trash, and I don’t mean that metaphorically. I literally mean some of the things they discover about people’s worlds based on what they discard was mind-blowing for me.”
Even more timely, the play premieres on the heels of the tragic murder of Angel Flores, a Cincinnati Rumpke sanitation truck worker, this past March. His death highlights not only the need for a play that sheds light on the profession, but also one that shows the humanity and necessity of such a line of work, says Meyers.
“It was horrific. I wanted to do something that would honor him,” says Meyers. “So what if you could go somewhere safe with a group of strangers and step into somebody else’s life and really experience it? I have this faith that the more we know about each other and our shared experiences, the more we can share.”
As for the resonance of the piece, Wiggins says to prepare to laugh and cry as the story unfolds in real-time and the two polar opposites find common ground in their duties and lives. She also hopes that it will change audiences’ perspectives on the profession and the humanity within all of us.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen or read a play centered about trash. I love stories about everyday, run-of-the-mill people, steeped in realism” says Wiggins. “I think people are going to walk away learning so much about what we discard. I think the idea of ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’ is going to be a huge thing that people latch on to.”
Filled with the sights and sounds of trash, Meyers promises an emotionally resonant piece that immerses audiences — but no worries, that doesn’t include the signature trash fragrance.
“There’s not going to be any smelly garbage, I want people to know that,” Meyers chuckles.
The Garbologists opens the next season at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Sept. 14 and runs through Oct. 6. More info: ensemblecincinnati.org .
This story is featured in CityBeat's Aug. 21 print edition.
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