BACK TO THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS
Definitely thoughtful, at times charming, occasionally compelling, but mostly tedious, Adriano Shaplin’s new play Sarah Flood in Salem Mass, tells of two girls from the future – Sara (Kate Thulin) and Juyoung (Jamie Bock) – who illegally use mom’s time machine and go back to 17th century Salem, Massachusetts, to try and prevent the infamous witch trials. Energetically directed by Rebecca Wright, the enthusiastic eighteen-person cast from the Bats ensemble brings much positive energy to this well-intentioned, eccentric show. This in and of itself leaves one feeling optimistic and hopeful – the fact that there are talented, capable individuals out there investing themselves in making unconventional, interesting theater.
Still, with all its praiseworthy qualities, the show is flawed. Going into Sarah Flood, the knowledge that the story of the Salem witch trials historically ends in horrific state-sanctioned barbarism serves as a built-in suspense device. But with characters that more often feel like abstractions than people and a tenuous dramatic structure, the show, except for a few gripping moments, seldom commands one’s attention. Ms. Wright’s direction seems to focus more on choreography than drama, eliciting intentionally self-conscious performances; when characters are conversing, for instance, more often than not the actors speak facing the audience as opposed to each other. There is little attempt to make the personages feel truly real. The effect, no doubt deliberate, is of watching a show being presented to us, rather than observing life as it occurs. This is a legitimate directorial choice, but one wonders if perhaps a slightly more straightforward interpretation might not have yielded more emotional and dramatic fruit.
Mr. Shaplin’s play asks the question: can we alter the past? This appears to be a metaphor for the real question: can we behave differently in similar situations in the future? This is a weighty theme that deserves exploration and it’s admirable that Mr. Shaplin brings it up, especially in the clever way that he does. Unfortunately, ultimately he skirts the issue, never showing us how the witch trials are relevant today; he never quite connects the past to the present. Instead the conclusion he chooses, though definitely meritorious, seems a bit too banal juxtaposed against the historical events that transpired in Salem.
The cast includes Bradley Anderson, Tom Carman, Matthew Cox, Yonghyun Choi, Whitney Conkling, Hannah Finn, Glenna Grant, John Paul Harkins, Kana Hatakeyama, Christine Lee, Hank Lin, Jeff Ronan, Isabella Sazak, Michelle Silvani, Mariette Strauss and Nate Washburn.
photos by Hunter Canning
Sarah Flood in Salem Mass
The Bats at the Flea Theater
ends on October 27, 2013
for tickets, call (212) 226-2407 or visit The Flea
