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The shoW: “Ocean Filibuster”
Written by: PearlDamour company, with text by Lisa D’Amour, music by Sxip Shirey, and direction by Katie Pearl, presented by American Repertory Theater
What it’s about:This innovative, ambitious, and imaginative approach to the climate crisis is presented at a meeting of Global Federation of Humans in the Future. Majority introduces an “End of Ocean Bill” designed to send parts of the oceans into space to offset the rising seas and create more land for humans. The Ocean shows up in human form to attempt to block the radical plan. The A.R.T. production can be seen live in Cambridge or streaming from anywhere March 9-27.
You can see it or not There is so much imagination and creativity to enjoy here, especially in Jennifer Kidwell’s dual performance as the two main characters of Mr. Majority and the Ocean, and in the show’s gorgeous visuals. And presenting varied perspectives and information on climate, oceans and human connection to both — so vital to particularly Cape Cod but of course the larger world — is a valuable, laudable goal for art. But parts of this world premiere’s format, its avant-garde style and the sometimes densely delivered science are not particularly approachable, which, for some, could blunt the impact of the messaging.
Highlights of the showKidwell delivers a remarkable performance singing and acting two distinct characters that often have to debate each other. The Ocean is playful and passionate, funny, and appealing as it explains the effects of the seas on all life on Earth and pleads for its case. That’s accomplished and backed up in part by a Greek chorus-like Ocean Choir and Tal Yarden’s stunning video projections shown on giant screens on the back and sides of the stage. The videos immerse the audience in an undersea world one minute, and are all-important to help comically explain complicated concepts the next.
Fun fact: “Ocean Filibuster” was commissioned and developed through a collaboration between A.R.T. A.R.T. and the Harvard University Center for the Environment. In a program note, Diane Paulus, artistic director, explains how Dan Schrag, HUCE Director, asked her to explain the climate crisis in arts. This is part of the final result.
It’s worth noting: The show’s ambitious “interactive intermission” offers the chance to consider the ocean in multiple ways: in the theater lobby — including a fascinating 3-D sculpture about how a breath exhaled in 1853 affects air inhaled in 2022; and with additional stage scenes, including a comic drag performance by a “spawning cod” talking about overfishing and urging the audience to sign a petition to save Caches Ledge off Cape Ann. These choices are creative, ambitious, and out of the ordinary. But some theatergoers will no doubt feel as if they’ve missed something when given only a 15-minute break to scan a QR code from the stage wall, download an app, wade through the meandering crowd to use it to enhance lobby installations, visit other information stations, and try to catch some of the in-theater performances, too.
Another thing: As much as this approach is sure to spark important conversation, the choice to set the story in a potential future where the debate is on an extreme plan — that theoretically demonstrates humans’ ingenuity used to save humans — doesn’t seem to focus enough talk and attention on the present climate crisis. The problem is NOW, the need for action is NOW, and it’s worrying that this show’s imaginary future setting could potentially reinforce for some that we have plenty of time to figure this out and the dire circumstances depicted are a mythical faraway scenario.
If you go:Tickets starting at $25 A digital version of the show will be available on demand from March 9 to 27. Reservations and information: AmericanRepertoryTheater.org/OceanFilibuster.
