TH IR DS – The Zephyr Theatre

TH IR DS, a play by Ben Edlin with story by Deborah Aquila, is a powerful examination of a presently potential dystopian future for the United States of America with a focus on the difference between our expectations of base human nature and where we actually are and what we are actually capable of doing.

Brilliantly compiled elements: global warming creating a lack of water in a climate of decisive separation of the states per either red or blue (post succession of the USA is the starting point), set the stage for series of character studies that deeply fascinate the viewing audience. Ms. Aquila, a superior and revered casting professional in the Hollywood studio system reveals her craft via her absolutely razor-sharp casting choices in this offering. Unexpected thought processes: unique and brilliantly nuanced actor choices allow this theatrical experience to continuously offer the unexpected in a dynamic and extremely engaging way.

Performances are uniformly excellent in this production. Stand outs include a completely unpredictable Carlo Mansacola as a Confederate States leader whose complicated smile and affable persona masks a basic nature, we thought we understood, until we didn’t. Sharp inner work. Corbin Reid, a top Pacific States official, walks beauty and power (resonating a little Kamala Harris without trying) as though they are the same thing and surprises us brilliantly with her arch’s outcome. Brian Yeun’s calm and affable exterior (a loyal executive for the blue states who feels comfortable residing in the red states as an ambassador who still believes in the US culture as a whole) hides his inner passions so well, he is lowkey the biggest surprise of the show. And Ben Edlin, the plays’ author, maintains a brilliant line of hope and open understanding (you know, the kind that always gets hurt) with a unique realism. He serves the story so well both as author and lead.

Jessica Aquila Cymerman’s direction is simple and complex at the same time. A filmed series of scenes projected on the back wall at times dances with actions on the stage. Although basic in its display, we see the task of marrying the on-stage medium with the film medium to tell the same story as not an easy one. Well done.  Lights and sound are smooth and simple. Stage design is smart and sharp.

The play cuts so close to today’s potential truth, it leaves the audience in a deep meditation of the present outside of the theatre truths as opposed to a simple assessment of characters on the stage. A powerful offering.

TH IR DS continues at The Zephyr, 7456 Melrose Ave., through Sept 29, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm.

Tickets are $35 and reservations can be made at 
https://thirdstheplay.com