Review: MORNING AFTER GRACE at Alhambra Theatre & Dining

Recently, during the curtain speech of Damn Yankees at the Alhambra Theatre & Dining, managing partner Craig Smith previewed the theatre’s next production: Morning After Grace. He warned audiences it would be something a little different from the usual Alhambra fare. In his playbill note, Smith elaborates: “Most of the productions you see here are lighthearted, filled with big musical numbers, singing and dancing. This show is a little different.”

That difference is immediately apparent. Morning After Grace leans into real, messy, funny, complicated life. It explores themes of loss, romance, intimacy, and even the occasionally surprising ways families navigate generational differences. Some may call it edgy, but nearly everyone will call it funny.

After such a preface, anticipation was high. Set in a retirement community on Florida’s Suncoast, the story unfolds through three characters: Angus, Abigail, and Ollie.

Kevin Anderson, as Angus, brings an impressive résumé spanning film, television, Broadway, Off-Broadway, London’s West End, and Dublin stages. Yet it’s his quiet, physical performance in the opening moments, before he even speaks, that immediately wins over the audience. The laughter comes quickly, but so does the understanding: this is a story grounded in truth, not spectacle. Anderson’s portrayal is so natural and sincere that the audience can’t help but feel for him.

Opposite him, Hillary Hickam delivers a beautifully balanced performance as Abigail. With decades of experience on stage and screen from New York to Los Angeles, Hickam brings warmth, sharp comedic timing, and emotional depth that perfectly complements her castmates.

While much of the stage time is shared between Angus and Abigail, it is Eugene Lindsey who leaves a lasting emotional impact as Ollie. A Jacksonville native, Lindsey brings both humor and heart to the role, drawing the audience in with a performance that is as touching as it is authentic. His presence adds an additional layer of emotional resonance that lingers well beyond the final moments.

Under the direction of Tod Booth, the production thoughtfully brings Carey Crim’s script to life. Booth and his team strike a careful balance between humor and vulnerability, allowing the story’s more delicate themes to land without losing its sense of joy.

Morning After Grace may step outside the Alhambra’s usual lineup, but it does so with confidence and heart. It’s a reminder that even without big musical numbers or spectacle, a simple, well-told story that is rooted in honesty and humanity can be just as captivating.

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