Munted

Reviewed by Lovell Estell III
Bare Hunt Collective at the Stella Adler Theatre
Through July 27

On February 22, 2011, a 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, causing massive damage to what was once the country’s second largest city, and killing 185 people. The disaster and the accompanying personal recollections are the narrative heart of this compelling piece of verbatim theatre, which, however, is not without its problems.

The performers are all from New Zealand, and it is frequently difficult to understand what they’re saying because of their thick accents. Writer-performer Victoria Abbott is the exception, consistently clear, and her take on a schoolteacher is heart-rending; while Frith Horan is infectiously humorous and engaging as a young child. The third performer is Jackie Shaw.

The script could use some judicious editing (and a bit more heft), as there are references to multiple locales within and around the city — references that get confusing as the show progresses.

The trio perform vigorously, dramatizing the stories of a carousel of people who lived through the event: A dentist, a teacher, a grocer, a constable, a news reporter and others — all vividly realized by the actors who switch personas with commanding grace.

In spite of the bleak subject matter, there is an arresting upside to this story that speaks about the enduring strength of the human spirit, and the human bonds that connect us.

Katharine McGill directs.

Bare Hunt Collective at the Stella Adler Theater, 6773 Hollywood Blvd.; Thur.-Sat., 8 pm., Sun., 3 & 7 p.m., through July 27. barehuntcollective.com