Trash or Treasure: "I Need That" Takes the Stage at Newport Playhouse

Every home tells a story. Beyond the architecture and the view from the porch, it's the things we keep that say the most about us: the stack of old records, the chair nobody sits in, the box of letters we swear we'll sort through someday. "I Need That," the comedy by acclaimed playwright Theresa Rebeck, is built around that idea, and it's now playing at The Newport Playhouse & Cabaret Restaurant on Connell Highway.

The Story

Sam doesn't get out much. Actually, he doesn't get out at all. He'd rather stay in the safety of his house, surrounded by everything he has collected over the years. His many, many things have become his comfort and his company.

Then a notice arrives from the government: clean up the property or face eviction. Suddenly Sam has to go through it all and decide what's trash, what's treasure, and whether anyone can ever really tell the difference.

What follows is sharp, funny and surprisingly tender. Rebeck, known for her quick dialogue and big-hearted characters, turns a cluttered living room into a place where memory, grief, stubbornness and hope all compete for space. It's a play about stuff, but really it's about the people we used to be and what it takes to let go.

Why It Resonates

Anyone who has cleared out a closet, packed up for a move or sorted through a family home will recognize Sam's struggle. We all have that one object we can't part with, even when we can't quite explain why. "I Need That" treats that feeling with humor and warmth, never judgment, and leaves you thinking about your own shelves long after the curtain falls.

It's an easy play to love, and an even better one to talk about over dinner.

More Than a Night at the Theater

That's where the Newport Playhouse shines. For decades it has been one of the city's most charming ways to spend an afternoon or evening, pairing live theater with a relaxed buffet and a lively cabaret. It's the kind of outing that works for date nights, family gatherings or a catch-up with old friends.

Guests can choose the full experience or keep it simple:

• Dinner, Theatre and Cabaret: $76.95 per person
• Theatre Only: $32 per person

Showtimes

Matinees, Sunday through Thursday:

• Doors: 11:00 AM
• Buffet: 11:30 AM
• Play: 2:00 PM

Evenings, Friday and Saturday:

• Curtain: 7:30 PM
• Cabaret: 9:30 PM

Plan Your Visit

The Newport Playhouse & Cabaret Restaurant
102 Connell Highway, Newport, RI 02840
(401) 848-7529

Gather a few friends, enjoy a good meal and a great show, and maybe go home looking at your own treasures a little differently.