Brandeis’ Department of Theater Arts has started 2026 by reminding audiences to appreciate the world around them and how quickly everything can change for a person. “The Baltimore Waltz,” written by Paula Vogel and directed by Brandeis’ own Jennifer Cleary, follows an adult brother and sister, played by Gianni Storti ’26 and Nina Lokshin ’26, respectively, and their journey through Europe in search of a doctor. Lokshin’s character, Anna, has contracted Acquired Toilet Disease, or ATD — a stand-in for AIDS — and it is terminal. Along the way, the siblings run into a variety of personalities, all portrayed by Matthew Magee ’26, who help make the trip more entertaining, risque and comedic for the audience. 

The show was, at its core, tight and efficient. The set gave the audience room to imagine the scene, with three levels of platforms, curtains and a bed in the center that got plenty of use by many characters. The set piece that tied the structure together was a small golden backdrop with iconic buildings from all over Europe, reminding the audience that it was possible to imagine a new space for every country that the siblings went to, even if the set did not change from scene to scene. The most impressive set moment, however, was when the curtains around the bed were used as a projector screen showing slides from “the Europe trip.” The curtains surrounding the bed were set alight as projectors from around the theater let the audience see pictures of a trip that was definitely not Baltimore. The slideshow made the audience feel very immersed in the show.

Additionally, the three actors’ performances were absolutely enthralling. Storti and Lokshin expertly navigated their characters’ bickering and loving banter while also facing the tidal wave of emotions that comes with knowing death is approaching. At the beginning of the show, Lokshin comes on with a guitar and sings “Come Monday” by Jimmy Buffett, causing the audience to be ready for a more serious production. Not five minutes later, Storti stands up and begins talking with what can only be described as “Steve from Blue’s Clues” energy, discussing cutting out pink triangles as stagehands give the audience scissors and construction paper. It was a surprising shift in tone, and the immediate shattering of the fourth wall engaged the audience, allowing them to interact with the actors and to laugh and gasp freely. Once the trip to Europe begins, Storti and Lokshin embody the frantic desperation of death very distinctly. Lokshin shows Anna’s desperation to live life to its fullest even when death is right around the corner. She accepts that death is coming and decides to try to have fun with the life she has left, pulling random men — all played by Magee — into her hotel room by simply being an American who does not know the local language. Lokshin’s less comedic moments, such as her “this is how I’d like to die” monologue, captured the audience completely, instantly making the theater swap from filled with laughter to engrossed in the story. 

Storti splendidly presents Carl’s desperation to save Anna. While Lokshin is living life to the fullest in Europe, Storti brings out Carl’s limitless desire to save his sister, going on underground spy missions and avoiding being intercepted by strangers following him — all played by Magee — to find a way to save his sister’s life. Throughout the show, Storti expresses the stress of hiding a dark secret in his past and trying to use that secret to save someone incredibly important to him, all while covering that up so that his sister wouldn’t worry. The audience was on his side all the way, feeling his desperation to save a life, even with incredible risk.

Matthew Magee’s performance in “The Baltimore Waltz” uniquely energized the audience. Sometimes he would have to change costumes on stage, or he would walk on with a ridiculous hairdo such as a rainbow mohawk, but every time, the audience could not contain its laughs or wows of surprise. Magee bought into the energy heavily, emphasizing his physicality and contrasting his many characters beautifully. Every character that Magee had to perform was distinguishable from the last and it never felt as though a character was repeated, even between his accents, walks and posture for each character he brought to life. His chemistry with Lokshin and Storti completed the show in a way that made it clear that putting on this show was really fun for everyone involved.

“The Baltimore Waltz” was a massive success for Brandeis Theater. This production took on heavy themes — AIDS, dismissal of people in need and reflections on the little things in life — and wrapped them in a mostly comedic package. In the end, the audience was left thinking about the life they had just witnessed, all of the great times and the devastating moments. Congratulations to everyone involved, especially the seniors who excellently brought this show about reminiscence to life.