Desert Storm

The Opportunities of Extinction – Broken Nose Theatre

 

While not a particularly unique mission statement for a theatre, Broken Nose strives to “create work that is accessible and engages the audience’s empathy, amplifying underrepresented voices and sparking conversation.” The company attempts to “reflect the city we live in…and the world around us.” The latest production from this 2018 recipient of Broadway in Chicago’s Emerging Theatre Award presents a new drama by up-and-coming playwright, Sam Chanse.

A young couple from the city, Mel and Arjun decide to drop everything and head to the Mojave Desert for an impromptu, overnight getaway. Camping in the shadows of the endangered  Joshua Trees, the couple run into Georgia, an independent, young high school student who devotes her time studying the effects of climate change on this species. In the midst of the ecological disaster, all three young people are struggling with their own personal problems—situations that are reflected in the danger that our earth is experiencing. 

Arjun is obsessed with Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social media. His addiction to his iPhone and making knee-jerk comments about sensitive topics has resulted in a problem that may jeopardize Arjun’s position as a college professor. Mel hopes that getting her boyfriend away from their academic environment will free him from his social media enslavement and help clear her own head. She’s been helping make ends meet by working at a menial job but has also been devoted to writing a book. Arjun continually criticizes Mel’s writing, noting a lack of creativity, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg in viewing this relationship.

Georgia is another story. She’s an intense, astonishingly intelligent young girl with a passion for environmental issues. A walking-talking encyclopedia about the Joshua Tree and its preservation, Georgia impresses both Mel and Arjun with her knowledge. How she feels about the insensitive way mankind has treated our planet over centuries is a metaphor for the way she sees her own young life, thus far. Although priding herself as a contented loner, Georgia unexpectedly relates closely to Mel. When Arjun leaves the two women alone to go buy more firewood, Georgia finds surprising comfort in sharing her story with Mel.

Directed with passion and determination by Jen Poulin, this 95-minute one-act starts out well, but, as it progresses, the play begins to feel a little rough and shaky. As the story eventually wraps up, it’s not clear what, if any, changes have taken place. We’re left with more questions than answers, which may be Sam Chanse’s intention in writing this play. 

In all fairness, part of the production’s lack of focus may have been due to accommodating the needs of an understudy in one of the three roles. Vijay Sarathi had to go on at the last minute in the role of Arjun. Unfortunately, Richard Costes, who normally plays this role, was unexpectedly called away due to a family emergency, and had to miss his opening weekend. Mr. Sarathi does an impressive job, and while he has large portions of his dialogue memorized, the handsome young actor carryied script, consulting it every so often for his next line. While Sarathi offered flashes of character, the empathetic opening night audience was always aware that the actor was primarily concerned with speaking his lines and helping to keep the play moving. With a couple more performances under his belt, Vijay Sarathi will be excellent in this role.

Always exceptional in any role she undertakes, Echaka Agba is terrific as Mel. Playing a character who’s slightly older than Arjun, Mel is the mature voice of reason in this play. She’s working hard to keep her boyfriend on the right path, while also trying to balance a rocky relationship and a career as an author, all the while aware that her biological clock is running down. Ms. Agba’s greatest skill, as an actress, is how conversational she makes her dialogue. As always, she’s so completely into her character that everything she says feels motivated and natural. Ms. Agba also manages to keep the play running on a smooth, even keel, despite all odds.

Aria Szalai-Raymond does a great job as Georgia. She plays a no-nonsense young woman who has buried her own problems beneath a passionate goal to help the planet. In particular, Georgia has a driving concern to nurture and help the endangered Joshua Trees to survive. This actress delivers this character with strength, determination and a steamroller style of line delivery that, we eventually learn, masks a great deal of personal pain.

Sam Chanse’s intense one-act drama contains a mountain of information and ideas, all discussed by three very different individuals, from every angle possible. Facts and opinions are presented, questions are asked and debated; but in the end the playwright offers no answers. We’re left alone in Devon Green’s bleak, desert environment as the light fades and the coyotes howl. We can ponder everything we’ve seen and heard, while trying to make some sense of how the fate of this planet, our obsession with social media and all our own personal problems somehow relate to each other. In the end, underrepresented voices are heard, empathy is felt for the three characters and conversation is provoked. But it’s another desert storm of confusion and agitation, without any kind of satisfying conclusion.

Somewhat Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

               

Presented June 1-30 by Broken Nose Theatre at the Den in studio 2A, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available at the Den box office or by going to www.brokennosetheatre.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.