Only You Can Control Your Future

brother sister cyborg space

This World Premiere one-act, now playing at Raven Theatre, is a distillation of all the reports and warnings that scientists have offered the world community for years about global warming. Former vice president Al Gore expressed a certain optimism when he said that humans have the tools to still repair the damage to the environment before it’s too late. But we’ve run out of time. The climate is definitely changed, despite denials by certain ignorant Right Wing politicians who seem to have their heads in the sand. The data is clear. Temperatures are rising at an alarming rate. The earth’s ecosystems are shifting in a costly, life-threatening and global way. The world, as we once knew it, is sick and dying. 

Playwright Paul Michael Thomson was commissioned by Raven Theatre to pen this futuristic parable based on our universal, world-wide calamity. In it, a billionaire named Elon (no, not THAT Elon, but the two share many coincidental similarities), who lives alone in a multi-room mansion far from the madding crowd, seems to have taken to heart something Dr. Seuss once wrote. The children’s author said, “Only you can control your future.” So, in this play, Elon has been secretly working with and independently funding the world’s most brilliant scientists to design and build a spaceship. Its mission would be to carry a small percentage of the earth’s population to the Moon and Mars. As in the familiar Biblical story of Noah’s Ark, these chosen individuals would then start all over again, rebuilding civilization.

Elon’s only companion at his house is his virtual assistant, Ava. She’s a disembodied voice, an artificial intelligence, like Alexa or Siri. Near the beginning of the play, Ava announces to Elon that a woman is approaching his door. It turns out to be Giselle, Elon’s older half sister. She’s come to Elon for his help. Giselle is in need of someplace to hide out for a few days…or months…or years…It seems this rebel of environmental justice has become part of a plot blow up one of the world’s most pollution-producing power sources. The problem is, this act of global defiance will also hinder Elon’s plan to launch his rocket. For 90-minutes, this brother and sister, who have loved and supported one another for years, debate, argue and try to convince each other that their solution to the end of the world is the best. In the final moments of Thomson’s play, however, a surprise twist changes both Elon and Giselle’s plans for controlling the future, and it will shock the audience.

Staged and guided by three-time Jeff Award-winning director Terry Guest, the play progresses along at a comfortable clip. He’s drawn a couple fine performances out of his cast. Matt Bowden, for instance, nicely plays Elon as the spoiled, poor little rich boy that he’s become in later life. Mr. Bowden is personable and eloquent in this role, particularly as he states his case, using projected numbers to illustrate his points. 

Brittney Brown portrays Giselle as a loud, bombastic young woman whose shrill voice soon grows tiresome. I wish she had found a little variety in her verbal delivery and physicality. Everything that she says and does seems to end in exclamation marks. And the bloodcurdling scream Ms. Brown lets out near the end will set any sound-sensitive theatergoer’s teeth on edge. Brittney is a powerful actress, but she hasn’t found the various layers in her character: Her Giselle is all one-note.

The finest performance in this three-hander comes from the exquisite Charence Higgins. While Ms. Higgins has understudied at Steppenwolf, the majority of her theatrical work has been out-of-state. But make no mistake—this lovely, talented young actress has a brilliant career ahead of her, as evidenced by this performance. As the voice of Ava, Ms. Higgins provides the whimsy, wisdom and wonder in this cautionary science fiction fantasy.

And one more starring performance in this production comes from the gifted technical team who create an environment for these characters. Steven Abbott’s lush, futuristic scenic design is greatly enhanced by the wonderful projections designed by Michael Salvatore Commendatore, assisted by Elli Green. The setting is bathed in Levi Wilkins’ ethereal lighting that creates so much mood and tone. He’s ably assisted by Brenden Marble. And Jeffrey Levin’s sound design and original composition coat the production with an authentic auditory landscape.

Paul Michael Thomson’s one-act science fiction drama will definitely make audiences think about what their future holds. The facts are real, the warnings have been issued and ignored and now the future is here. All of this makes this production especially frightening. As directed by multitalented Terry Guest, and supported by the artistry of a gifted technical team, this show makes it difficult for theatergoers to turn their backs on the gloom and doom that is likely to lie ahead of us. 

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented February 8-March 17 by Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark Street, Chicago.

Tickets are available at the door or by going to www.raventheatre.com.

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