ASIAN ART AT CENTER OF 36 VIEWS

2. August 2009 by admin.

Asian art at center of 36 Views

F. J. Hartland 

           Asian art.  Forgery. Theft.  Intrigue.  Double crossing.  Investigative reporters.  Deception.  All of these elements make up 36 Views by Naomi Iizuka, the current offering by Quantum Theatre.  You would also think it is the recipe for an exciting evening of theatre. 

           Unfortunately, it is not.

            Directed by Karla Boos, the show is slow paced and the majority of the characters are unlikeable.  I knew we were in trouble when the play began with a l-o-n-g narrative told by the central character Darius Wheeler, played by Matthew Grey.  Wheeler is a black market art dealer, womanizer and scoundrel.  Grey gives a flat, one-dimensional dull-as-dishwater performance.  Rebecca Hirota as Setsuko Hearn is lovely, but not much more interesting as Wheeler’s object of desire.  There is no chemistry or spark between them, so the romance seems hollow and wooden.

            Robert Haley gives a believable performance as the bumbling professor.  As Elizabeth Newman-Orr, Tressa Glover is almost too perky.

            Attempting to breathe some life into this snooze-fest are Jason Martin as Wheeler’s assistant John Bell and Shammen McCune as art restorer Claire Tsong.  Martin gives a multi-layered performance, creating a quirky genius caught up in events and unsure whom to trust.   Likewise, McCune gives depth to her role and is always visually interesting to watch on stage and always keeps us guessing just what she is up to.

              But even their Herculean efforts can’t save this production.

            There are some twists and turns along the way in 36 Views.  Sadly, most of them happen late in the second act.  Too late to keep this script alive.

            Quantum Theatre has made its reputation by working in “found” spaces.  And they have found a beautiful space with the amphitheatre at Washington’s Landing.  Many theatre-goers came early to enjoy a picnic or a glass of wine on the shore of the Allegheny River.  Very picturesque.  Very romantic.

            But this is a park in a bustling city.  Why Quantum chose NOT to put microphones on their actors, I don’t know.  It is a mistake.  The performers end up shouting to be heard over the boats, trains, cars, helicopters and airplanes that continually pass by.  It’s difficult to create any kind of intimate scenes when the cast has to SHOUT TO BE HEARD.

            Boos has also filled the production with elements of Asian theatre—Noh and kabuki, for example.  If you know Noh and kabuki, I’m sure these add to the viewing experience.  I’m guessing most of the audience (myself included) do not—so it was lost on us.

            The set by Tony Ferrieri is simple and quite functional.  It is aided beautifully by Carolina Loyola-Garcia’s video design.  The projections are handled in a most creative way and gave the audience something to look at while the play dragged on.  Lighting designer C. Todd Brown is saddled with the difficulty of lighting an outdoor production.  Sometimes the lighting works; sometimes, it doesn’t.

            Other than a gorgeous kimono, the costumes by Marissa Miskanin are bland and flat.  Perhaps the palate of grey, black and white of the costumes was intentional, not to draw away from the colorful Asian art.  But aren’t these characters colorless enough?

            All the pieces of an interesting play are here.  Unfortunately, they are scattered on the table and never fit together. 

           36 Views continues through August 30.

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