The world premiere of Mosaic was as if theater performers were not already revealing different sides of themselves on stage while assuming fictional roles. art of care It demands more emotional and personal nudity that is rarely asked of actors.
As such, no one in the cast is required to take off their clothes, but each member of the seven-person ensemble is given an intimate glimpse into some of their own most vulnerable, even painful moments. Written and directed by Derek Goldman, art of care The production was developed with the cast weaving together oral narratives, dramatic scenes, songs and movement to weave a tapestry of warm testimonies to both the lives of the carers and the care they gave.
They will also act out testimonies from caregivers interviewed for the play. The resulting freewheeling merry-go-round of vignettes and interludes, resulting in a full and rich experience, utilizes all aspects of theatrical craft and community to convey a message of shared empathy, especially for those suffering.
The overall tone is serious and positive, with a bit of a Kumbaya feel, reflected in the sepia lighting and set design straight out of a coffee house, with matching sofas and rugs.
Before the show begins, the actors, known as some of DC Theater’s most admired actors, mingle with the audience and take notes from audience members about the theater’s caregivers. their It’s alive. We’re all in this together, according to art of careundivided. The show is said to be a celebration of “interdependence over independence,” and the story and performances effectively illustrate that point.
Musician Jabari Exum begins a sense of interdependence by getting everyone in the house to the beat (hopefully), giving them the bass, tone, and clap elements of the djembe sound. Following a musical greeting, each actor introduces themselves and invites us into their world.
Alternating around Misha Kachman’s colorful set, with Xavier Augustus Lee Taylor’s apt projection in the background, actors Susan Rohm, Billy Chrishon, Tom Story, Raghad Makhlouf, Tuyet Thoth Pum, William T. Newman talks about birth, death, and divorce. , illness, war and revolution, professional triumphs and setbacks, and artistic inspiration.
A touching scene depicts adult children caring for their elderly and sick mother, while in another scene a cancer center doctor played by Roma discovers the healing effects of live music on his patients. The cast takes on the roles of various doctors and nurses who condone the shit they endure in order to provide care.
Roma spoke about her struggles with illness, divorce, and caring for her children as a single mother, and was captivated by her advice to lean into the intense emotions created by adversity as a form of self-care. Krishaun recalls a time of collective adversity, when he passed a line asking for a face mask on his way to this very theater to rehearse Mosaic. up to the trilogyDue to the coronavirus pandemic, it has been postponed for nearly two years.
According to him, the story is based on his experience playing Reverend Walter. angels of america — excerpts of which he brilliantly presents here — helped him prepare for the effects of the recent pandemic.
Some stories specifically refer to that moment when we all needed care. Reliving it may be a largely unappealing prospect for some, but this company takes us back without resorting to gloomy reminiscences. If anything, the cast makes this show feel fresh and urgent. Perhaps the immediacy of presenting your experiences to a variety of strangers with each show helps keep it fresh.
And each cast member, if not more, was given time to command the room, punctuating the dramatic beats with percussion and sharing their own stories of caring for their goddaughters through music. Everyone does it competently, including Exum.
Considering the current theme, the overall atmosphere is very upbeat. art of care Extract meaningful truth from a combination of sources and formats. And artists certainly care about bravely sharing intimate aspects of their humanity so that we can connect directly with them, others, and ourselves.
The Art of Care (★★★★☆) runs through Nov. 24 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. Tickets range from $42 to $78, with discount options available for each performance. Please call 202-399-7993 ext. 2 or visit www.mosaictheater.org.
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
