Steven Dietz's Play "This Random World" is Ho Hum LBT in Santa Rosa

"This Random World" playing at the Luther Burbank Theater in Santa Rosa is a rigorous riff on the "wake up and smell the coffee" trope.  Oftentimes, a carpe diem theme resonates with the poignancy of having lived an unfulfilled life as in Miller's "Death of a Salesman," Chekov's "Uncle Vanya" or Wilder's "Our Town."  Steven Dietz (b Amer. 1958) is a prolific playwright whose many plays are currently been produced throughout the US.  "This Random World" fails to break new ground searching for missed opportunities.  The writing lacks depth and the actors were all shrill.  I won't fault the actors for shouting as they were trying to be overheard by Joe Winkler's sound design of continual sonorous rain.  Set designer Argo Thompson made better use of background inclement visuals and sparse sets that shifted fluidly from scenes in both the US & Japan.  The cast of characters includes 2 sibling sets whose familial connections are loosely tethered.  Both sets of siblings harp on "mother always liked you best."   The brother/sister siblings' quibbling revolves around their hermetically isolated mother, Scottie (Trish DeBaun).  The two have no clue their mom is up at dawn to view each unique, miraculous sunrise accompanied by a less than enthused caretaker, Bernadette (Rose Frater).  Scottie also has a penchant for clandestine travel abroad with Bernadette's help and her vow of secrecy from her adult children.  The families intertwine without connecting although they come close in circumstances that are incredulous.  Beth fails to meet up with her travel groups designated departures leaving her in precarious situations.  Furthermore, Beth's macabre obsession with arranging her own obituary & funeral prove her to be controlling and out of touch with savoring life precious moments.  Gary (Ariel Zuckerman) and Claire (Paige Picard) share the most engaging scene where Gary is ending their relationship much to Claire's bitter chagrin.   The play is neither sentimental or moralistic. But, neither is it savvy or funny.  Its construct grows wearisome and the rainfall of life's bounties prove shallow.  Don't wander far from home in order to see "This Random World."