Or Simultaneous Equations?????
Since The Equation uses an inverse structure to explain how the devastation of the Great Depression gave rise to the myopic materialism of the 1950’s, it is no accident that Charles Waxberg chose a mathematical title for his play, which opened this weekend at Theatre 9-12. However, given the mathematical theme for the title, a more appropriate title, given its highly creative structure might be Simultaneous Equations.
In mathematical terms simultaneous equations are two different equations which arrive at the same result. In The Equation, there are two story lines, recounted simultaneously, telling the same story from different points of view and in different chronological order. In cinematic fashion, one “scene” from each story is told one after the other.
Opening the play is Arash, played by Eric Olson, a brasher version of Mad Men’s Don Draper, who monologues about life and salesmanship as well as the 1950’s version of happiness: the myopic pursuit of materialism. Interspersed between his monologues is a story, of a young wife who leaves her husband and young baby, told in reverse chronological order As the two stories unfold and converge, the disillusion of the American Dream caused by the Great Depression is poignantly highlighted.
Charles Waxberg, who wrote and directed the play, assembled a highly capable cast, especially Monica Finney as the wife, Victoria Gates, who not only looked stunning in 30’s hats, but transformed herself into that era. Joey Fechtel, as her husband Dr. Barron Gates, brought to life all the bewilderment a helpless husband feels when confronted by infertility. David S. Klein, as an eccentric near-sighted doctor, added a lot of comic relief. Although the dialogue of Colleen Carey, as an immigrant Russian woman, was completely authentic, her accent was too strong and seemed to get in the way of bringing her character to life
One of the outstanding features of this production, were the costumes by Miska Navarre-Huff, who assembled some absolutely authentic and beautiful 30’s costumes, worthy of any high budget Hollywood movie.
Although the story of The Equation itself was interesting, choosing to tell it using an untraditional structure added a huge amount of suspense. The author Charles Waxberg is to be commended for taking creative risks while maintaining coherence. It isn’t often Seattle audiences see a creative risk like this turn out so spectacularly.
The Equation. Written and Directed by Charles Waxberg. Theatre 9-12 609-8th Ave, First Hill, Seattle ( Parking available) Jan. 24th –Feb 25th Fri & Sat. at 8 pm. Sat. Matinée Jan 25th, Feb. 8th & 15th at 2 pm Sun. Feb 2nd at 2pm. (206) 332-7908 www.Theatre 912.com. Pay-What-You-Can
Simultaneous Equations?????
Since The Equation uses an inverse structure to explain how the devastation of the Great Depression gave rise to the myopic materialism of the 1950’s, it is no accident that Charles Waxberg chose a mathematical title for his play, which opened this weekend at Theatre 9-12. However, given the mathematical theme for the title, a more appropriate title, given its highly creative structure might be Simultaneous Equations.
In mathematical terms simultaneous equations are two different equations which arrive at the same result. In The Equation, there are two story lines, recounted simultaneously, telling the same story from different points of view and in different chronological order. In cinematic fashion, one “scene” from each story is told one after the other.
Opening the play is Arash, played by Eric Olson, a brasher version of Mad Men’s Don Draper, who monologues about life and salesmanship as well as the 1950’s version of happiness: the myopic pursuit of materialism. Interspersed between his monologues is the story, told in reverse chronological order, of a young wife leaving her husband and young baby. As the two stories unfold and converge, the disillusion of the American Dream caused by the Great Depression is poignantly highlighted.
Charles Waxberg, who wrote and directed the play, assembled a highly capable cast, especially Monica Finney as the wife, Victoria Gates, who not only looked stunning in 30’s hats, but transformed herself into that era. Joey Fechtel, as her husband Dr. Barron Gates, brought to life all the bewilderment a helpless husband feels when confronted by infertility. David S. Klein, as an eccentric near-sighted doctor, added a lot of comic relief. Although the dialogue of Colleen Carey, as an immigrant Russian woman, was completely authentic, her accent was too strong and seemed to get in the way of bringing her character to life
One of the outstanding features of this production, were the costumes by Miska Navarre-Huff, who assembled some absolutely authentic and beautiful 30’s costumes, worthy of any high budget Hollywood movie.
Although the story of The Equation itself was interesting, choosing to tell the story using an untraditional structure added a huge amount of suspense. The author Charles Waxberg is to be commended for taking creative risks while maintaining coherence.
The Equation. Written and Directed by Charles Waxberg. Theatre 9-12 609-8th Ave, First Hill, Seattle ( Parking available) Jan. 24th –Feb 25th Fri & Sat. at 8 pm. Sat. Matinée Jan 25th, Feb. 8th & 15th at 2 pm Sun. Feb 2nd at 2pm. (206) 332-7908 www.Theatre 912.com. Pay-What-You-Can