Earthquakes in London
Reviewed by Terry Morgan
Rogue Machine
Through March 1
RECOMMENDED
The phrase, “Nero fiddled while Rome burned” is used to describe doing something trivial when serious action is desperately required. It’s an apt epigram for humanity today — fully aware of the worsening disasters brought on by climate change but content to focus on acquiring more money and power, even as sea levels rise. People do know what’s coming, however, and Earthquakes in London, Mike Bartlett’s smart, ambitious play now receiving a superb West Coast premiere at Rogue Machine, details all the ways this knowledge shapes us.
In London, the three daughters of a famous father move through their lives in very different ways. The youngest, Jasmine (Taylor Shurte), parties and strips (as performance art), recklessly careening from one thing to the next. Sarah (Anna Khaja) is a government minister interested in environmental causes but not disinterested in power. Freya (Ava Bogle), pregnant and very anxious, wanders the city, waiting for a predicted earthquake to strike. Their estranged father Robert (Ron Bottitta) lives alone in Scotland, in grim anticipation of the world’s descent into chaos. They’re all drawn together by a personal cataclysm which, while tragic for them, might offer hope to mankind.
Shurte has fun as the strong-willed Jasmine; she flirts and divvies up drugs (“I’ll be mother.”), but also excels in quiet moments, as with her first meeting with her absent father. Khaja is terrific as the clever but arrogant Sarah, an alpha executive who enjoys her status but might be morally losing her way. Bogle does strong work in the tricky role of Freya, the suffering soul of the piece. Bottitta is excellent as Robert, who bullies the world and his family with his genius. Bottitta’s delivery of a monologue about Robert’s feelings for his daughters is quietly powerful albeit damning, and it’s a highlight of the production.
Jeff Lorch gives a touching portrayal of Sarah’s unhappy husband, Colin, and James Liebman serves up simmering anger as Freya’s concerned spouse, Steve. Zoey Bond demonstrates great skill and comedic timing as the hyper-verbal young teen, Peter, while Jonathan P. Sims is all silky elegance as the manipulative businessman Carter. Paul Stanko, Michael James Bell, Mari Weiss and Sara Shearer are standouts in supporting roles within a talented ensemble.
Directors Hollace Starr and John Perrin Flynn do expert work with their 17-person cast, staging the action dynamically and pacing it so swiftly that this two hour and 40 minute play never feels as long as it is. Starr and Flynn keep a myriad of plotlines distinct and add impressive visual flair to unexpected musical sequences, which are well-choreographed by Marwa Bernstein. Matt Richter’s lighting and Michelle Hanzelova’s projections brilliantly combine to create the many different settings of the story.
Earthquakes in London is essentially a family character study laid out on a big canvas. Bartlett’s writing is sharp and funny and moving, and while his ultimate message is one of hope, he also makes clear the possible consequences of our flawed stewardship of the planet. “The earth knows what it wants. It wants to get rid of us.” It’s a stark statement in a striking play and a great production.
Rogue Machine (in the Electric Lodge), 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; through Mar. 1. www.roguemachinetheatre.com. Running time: approximately two hours and 40 minutes with one intermission.
