Walden by Amy Berryman is currently being presented by Icarus Theatre at The Theatre Centre. It’s set in the United States in a not too distant future where the impacts of climate change have become acute. Summer temperatures in New England push 50C and millions die in tsunamis but social cohesion (such as it is in the USA!) seems largely unaffected. Back to the Earthers flourish unhindered in the mountains but NASA is still funded to the point where it can send manned missions to the Moon or Mars.
Soundstreams’ high concept show Electric Messiah opened at the Drake Underground last night. So what is Electric Messiah? It’s a potent mix of Handel/Jennens, four exceptional singers from varied backgrounds, electronics, turntable artists and electric guitars. It’s “staged” in the round in a dive bar with the audience and artists mixed up all over the place. Curator Kyle Brenders, dramaturg Ashlie Corcoran and lighting designer Patrick Lavender have created something that’s weird and dynamic and exciting and, just occasionally, a bit self indulgent and I really enjoyed it. Probably my biggest complaint would be that it’s too short at around an hour.
