Seashore
Tri-Arts Inc
In puppeteer and director Andrew Park’s compelling play, about a young field mouse’s search for the sea despite her parents’ warnings, growing up is about finding spiritual fulfillment through a successful quest.
?In puppeteer and director Andrew Park’s compelling play, about a young field mouse’s search for the sea despite her parents’ warnings, growing up is about finding spiritual fulfillment through a successful quest. The dialogue is sometimes awkward, but there’s so little of it that it doesn’t matter–this hour-long fable keeps our attention with its soaring score and the rich, mysterious world evoked by Buck Blue’s quirky puppets (procrastinating dwarfs, a singing snake) and Troy Fujimura and Simon Lashford’s creative lighting and simple but effective set: spare painted trees and projected scenery inspired by Rene Magritte.
The a cappella score of spirituals, hymns, and folk songs is lushly sung by the 11-member ensemble, with occasional percussion by Ruta James. Most songs are performed in the American shape-note style, which favors clear, full-throated, slightly eerie harmonies. The elfin Allison Latta is wide-eyed and determined as the young mouse, and Justine BonDurant is slinky and seductive as the cat whose sudden violence almost keeps the brave mouse from her quest. Park makes the production sharp and surprising rather than sentimental, creating a dreamy, still otherworld.? Jennifer Vanasco, Chicago Reader May 3, 2002“A raucously unpredictable theater piece that became an underground sensation, this undermining of Shakespeare’s bloody Scottish tragedy returns Friday to depict three classic clowns competing for the role of Macbeth by in effect becoming him. Molly Brennan, Adrian Danzig and Paul Kalina bring traditional vaudeville and burlesque skills to their lethally competitive clowns.? Lawrence Bommer, Chicago Tribune April 19, 2002
Performers
Allison Latta, Justin BonDurant, Andrew Park,