“Diversion” illuminates workplace pressures affecting nurses

Premiere Stages at Kean University brings us a twist on the classic whodunit for its fall offering. It’s Diversion, a new drama by Scott Organ, directed by Premiere Stages’ Producing Artistic Director, John J. Wooten. Diversion, set post-COVID, uses a group of ICU nurses to show how handling an unprecedented pandemic has had lingering effects on already-stressed medical staffers on the front lines.

We meet the nurses in their break room. Mandy (Edie Salas Miller), the youngest of the group, struggles with feelings of inadequacy that are not helped by her at-home lack of sleep. Amy (DeAnna Lenhart) shields herself with a shell of cynicism, suspicion, and implacable perfectionism. Emilia (Dani Nelson) is weary but remains supportive of those around her, sometimes to the exclusion of her own self-care. Mike (Lucas Iverson) uses a cheery attitude that belies his nursing skill and deep devotion to his patients’ well-being. And Bess (Jeaniene Green) is the sympathetic but no-nonsense crew chief, a liaison to management trying to keep the pressures of hospital administrators away from her team.

Unfortunately, it has been discovered that someone in the hospital has been diverting drugs from the ICU, and the possible suspects have been narrowed to someone on the nursing staff. The suspense in Diversion is in finding out who is doing the diverting, why, and how best to resolve the situation. Heightening the tension is the arrival of Josephine (Michelle Liu Coughlin), a former nurse who now works as a situation analyst in cases like this. She has been tasked with finding who is behind the diversion.

Playwright Scott Organ’s script has given the cast, under Wooton’s direction, chances to show the characters’ depths of emotion. There are several outstanding examples of this. Coughlin’s investigator maintains a friendly demeanor while letting us know by gestures, facial expressions, vocal inflections, and pauses just how much the staff’s rejection of her hurts. Iverson maintains a goofy, naive facade throughout, yet shows deep anguish when one of his patients codes unexpectedly. Miller’s new-to-the-group nurse is uncertain of her nursing skills, comparing herself to others, yet showing us how she uses the advice of her colleagues to gain confidence.  

Premiere Stages’ technical staff — scenic designer Bethanie Wampol Watson, lighting designer Zack Gage, and sound designer Tyler Sautner — make good use of the stage space, creating a believable — but maybe a bit too tidy? — staff break room. Karen Lee Hart’s costumes add to the stage illusion, with well-worn and comfortable scrubs for the nurses, casual business attire for investigator Josephine, and a spectacular black dress for Mandy for New Year’s Eve partying.

While Diversion is a good play, it’s one in which I feel the one-act format does it a disservice. I would have liked a little more fleshing-out of each of the characters — Amy and Bess in particular — enlarging the play to two acts, as its mystery format could well handle an intermission. Also, I would have liked to see the characters act more like they have spent years together. This missing element is, I think, due to the extremely short preview period that works against so many plays in New Jersey’s professional theatres.

Diversion is a strong play about the toll that extended, unprecedented workplace pressures take on employees, especially those in already high-stress occupations. It is a very good play, just falling short of being great. For those who like solving mysteries; for those who lived through the hectic early years of the COVID-19 pandemic or who knew someone who did; and for those who enjoy new drama exploring subjects that are seldom touched upon, I recommend making the trip to Union’s Kean University to see Diversion.

Diversion is presented by Premiere Stages at Drew University in Union through Sept. 22, 2024. For tickets or for more information, go to premierestagesatkean.com or call 908-737-4092.