Written by orange• November 17, 2024• 6:30 pm• Santa Ana, The Wayward Artist, Uncategorized

The Children @ The Wayward Artist – Review

photo credit: Ryella Zar

Written by Daniella Litvak

In 2011, the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami caused the meltdown of three nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. This released toxic, radioactive materials into the environment and forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes and businesses. The Fukushima nuclear disaster inspired playwright Lucy Kirkwood to write her drama, The Children.

The play takes place in a cottage along the British coast and belongs to a married couple, Hazel (Shelly Day) and Robin (Kelly Franett). They are retired nuclear engineers who worked at the nearby nuclear power plant, which has recently experienced a Fukushima-like disaster. One day, their former colleague, Rose (Juliet Fischer), shows up at their doorstep. They catch up. They discuss the nuclear disaster and relief efforts. All the while, it becomes more apparent that the relationships among the characters are more complicated than initially thought.

Story:

There are essentially two plot-lines in The Children. There’s the plot-line about the nuclear power plant disaster, and then there is the Betty-Archie-Veronica relationship festering between Hazel, Robin, and Rose. The intent is for two plot-lines to mirror and comment upon each other, but in execution, it comes across as disjointed. The characters will talk about the nuclear power plant for a while. Then, it feels like the action pauses to discuss the personal relationships. Then, the relationship drama is paused to resume the nuclear power plant plot, and this pattern continues for the rest of the show.

Acting:

The performances from the entire cast, Juliet Fischer, Shelly Day, and Kelly Franett, are strong across the board. The characters are complicated, and sympathy for each of them ebbs and flows throughout the show. Thanks to the actors and the direction from Director Craig Tyrl, the characters are always engaging.

These characters go through an emotional wringer, and each actor is able to capture all the emotional nuances. There was a great moment from Franett when he dramatically (practically animatedly) lets his public facade fall, and his true colors show when he is alone with Rose.

Set Design:

Kylie Baumbush’s set design nicely suited the play. You see it and immediately get it. It is supposed to be a rustic cottage. The projection depicting the coastal view from the kitchen window made the world seem much more expansive and kept the stage from looking too static. The tree visible from the open doorway was a nice touch. Roberto Hernandez’s lighting added a lot of atmosphere and mood to the show.

Final Thoughts:

Intentional or not, one of the themes of The Children is saying goodbye. Although The Wayward Artist is closing its doors, it will not be forgotten. On its stage, we could see pirates battling leprechauns for hidden treasure and retired nuclear engineers fighting over the ethical ramifications of their personal and professional lives. The Wayward Artist did not shy away from the challenging and thought-provoking. Thank you, The Wayward Artist, for your hard work and dedication, the memories, and always being a breath of fresh air for the Orange County theater scene.