"After the Blast" at Langhorne Players - A Dystopian Warning
- Kristine Bonaventura
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
by Stephen Kreal
On Friday, April 25th I attended the opening night performance of After the Blast, a play written by playwright/actress/screenwriter Zoe Kazan. After the Blast was originally published and produced in 2017, and began performances on October 23rd, 2017 in the Claire Tow Theater. Notable cast members from that initial production include actress Cristin Milioti (How I Met Your Mother/Black Mirror) and Tony Award-nominated actor William Jackson Harper (Broadway: Uncle Vanya/ TV: The Good Place). The performance was at the quaint Langhorne Players Theater in Newton, PA. It was directed by D. Ryan Lafferty, who was also responsible for scenic design, and assistant directed by Robert A. Norman. In addition, Norman was the play’s producer as well as remotely operating the robot.
The setting of the play is a future, dystopian world where environmental disasters have caused the surface of the Earth to become uninhabitable. The exact nature of the cataclysm is not explained, but we do learn that the surface is radioactive and the ozone layer is highly degraded. The script pays careful attention to the various physical and mental health issues of people having to live underground or in close quarters under these conditions. To combat this, citizens are implanted with a computer chip to engage in “simming”, more on that later.
The set is an underground living quarters, inhabited by Anna (Caity Brown) and her pair-bonded partner Oliver (Jamil Long). Long and Brown had good stage chemistry and were quite natural in their performances. Intimacy director Francine Odri clearly was detail-oriented, contributing to the authenticity of their scenes. Ms. Brown showed remarkable range, from acting silly and “dancing” with Artie to intense marital strife.
D. Ryan Lafferty created a very stark, minimalistic space, with his scenic design choices. Suggesting how it may be necessary for people to live underground with limited space. Lighting Designer Liz Minder used harsh, fluorescent lighting to emphasize the lack of natural light, and monitors with nature scenes playing at all times. Accompanying set design, costumes by Melissa Rittman & RittzyRuth Productions, were modern in their appearance and mostly in neutral tones. All of the characters had long sleeves and full-length slacks, suggesting that the underground environment is chilly, a nice touch.
The story revolves mostly around the couple wanting to have a baby. In this future world, achieving that is much more complicated, placing Anna and Oliver on the brink of their last chance. We are introduced to their friends, Carrie (Chloe Richter, who also voices “Mija”) and Patrick (John Lopacki, who also plays “Sam”) who have received approval for fertility, further pushing Anna/Oliver to try to conceive. Oliver has a prestigious job at a government agency tasked with the all-important job of monitoring atmospheric conditions at the surface. Due to his connections, Oliver is able to secure options to hopefully find a solution to he and Anna’s problems.
We are then introduced to Arthur, a robot that interacts with the characters. The robot prop/character is graciously on loan to Langhorne Players Theater by The Lincoln Center Theater in New York City. “Artie” is a dynamic, active member of the cast. This represents a remarkable technical AND artistic accomplishment. I asked around and learned that assistant director Robert A. Norman controlled the movements/motions of the robot on the stage. This includes wheeling around the stage, head turns, and arm-flailing. Credit is given in the program to Princeton High School Computer and Robotics Club, along with Stage and Prop Manager Terri Bentley, for rendering assistance and technical help with this.
Actor Scott Karlin, who was offstage in a sound-proof booth with a monitor to see the action on stage, was voicing Artie’s lines. Mr. Karlin explained to me after the performance, in detail, how this was accomplished and I applaud this feat of theatrical and technical challenge. Not only was this a challenge for the production team, but for the stage actors having to interact with what is essentially an inanimate object. Actress Caity Brown was faced with the challenge of having a robot as a scene partner. She does a remarkable job of bonding with Artie and the lighthearted moments, combined with Artie’s unfiltered observations on things, are whimsically entertaining. I also would like to commend Mr. Karlin on the impressive consistency of his robot voice. It really was like a machine. Mr. Karlin also had a walk-on role as Lowes, a computer/robotics technician, Bravo, Mr. Karlin! Congratulations to Sound Designer Mark Kolber and crew: Ellen Cicchitti, John Tancini Tom Tolen, Renee Root, Chris Root, John Lafferty and Erin Leder. Projections were managed by Thomas Wick & Andreas Dobelli.
As mentioned earlier, many citizens use “simming” by activating the microchip in their head as a means of escapism to fend off depression. People can mentally transport themselves (simulate) to other times/places (reminiscent of the Holodeck on Star Trek: The Next Generation for my Trekkie readers). Oliver sees this as a harmless pastime, but Anna is very much against it, viewing it as an unhealthy addiction, even citing statistics as to how prevalent it is in the society. An absolutely savage critique on modern society, and our collective obsessions, some would say addictions, with our devices. In another scene, Oliver is explaining to Artie how wasteful people were with clean, freshwater resources. He has a monologue about the myriad ways we waste this precious resource, which is rationed in the subterranean world in which they live. The play has numerous other, cogent and insightful criticisms about humanity’s impact on the environment, deftly woven throughout the script.
Events come to a crescendo when Anna is feeling better and they decide to make their final appeal for fertility. So as not to give any spoilers, there will be very few details, but there is a powerful plot twist that changes the story arc. At this point, I must become secretive to not reveal any more plot points, as I urgently encourage you to see this production.
The supporting cast is rounded out by Rosie Karlin, who has a walk-on role in Act 2 as the character Margarita, which is well-acted, with a convincing accent, and important to the narrative. I also liked the costume choices for this character. Ms. Karlin does a wonderful job portraying a wise, senior member of the community.
After The Blast explores themes of artificial intelligence and robots, mental health issues, government regulation of fertility, and technological addiction. This production is a marvel of technical and artistic achievement. The acting, direction, and technical elements are combined perfectly. Langhorne Players Theater, director D. Ryan Lafferty, and the cast and production team should be very proud of their achievement. I encourage you to support this interesting, thought-provoking, timely and thoroughly entertaining play. “After The Blast” runs through Sunday, May 11th. Tickets can be purchased here: https://langhorneplayers.vbotickets.com/events. Langhorne Players Theater is located at Spring Garden Mill/Tyler State Park, 1440 Newtown-Richboro Road, Newtown PA.
Fascinating article about Geopathology:
