“The Mormon Bird Play” at FringeNYC 2014 at the Robert Moss Theater at 440 Studios (Closed on Thursday August 21, 2014)
“The Mormon Bird Play” at FringeNYC 2014 at the Robert Moss Theater at 440 Studios (Closed on Thursday August 21, 2014)
Written and Directed by Roger Benington
Reviewed by David Roberts and Joseph Verlezza
Theatre Reviews Limited
In 1938, on the precipice of events that led to World War II, Witold Gombrowicz wrote the tradicomedy “Iwona, księżniczka Burgunda” (“Ivona, Princess of Burgundia”). The play graphically describes what the enslavement of form, custom, and ceremony brings to a nation-state, a community, even an individual.
In Roger Benington’s allegorical retelling of Gombrowicz’s play, Princess Ivona arrives in Salt Lake City and is befriended by a group of Mormon children readying themselves for baptism into their faith community. Dubbed Princess of the Birds, Ivona proves to be an interesting distraction for the children but becomes an annoying presence: Ivona has a way of seeing into their souls and exposing much of the hypocrisy of the community. Playwright Roger Benington cleverly uses Ivona as a riveting extended metaphor (here an allegory) to expose not only the hypocrisies of religious constructs but also the commitment of such constructs to preserve their tenants and their control over their penitents.
The parallels between Ivona Princess of Burgundia and Ivona Princess of Birds (and all things ornithological) are intriguing. This “enotes” comment on Gombrowicz’a Ivona describes the matrix of religiosity that eventually compels playmates Brenda, Clifford, Pipa, and Evan to destroy Ivona. The fantasy sequence relating the burial of a stillborn baby on the Prairie at the beginnings of Mormonism is a chilling and startling precursor to Ivona’s death.
“At first, the prince finds her exhilarating for precisely this reason: Loving her releases him from a role. In the end, however, trying to live as one’s true self and not in some socially defined capacity is so alienating that it cannot be sustained. Therefore, a social event must be staged that removes Ivona from the scene. Society must find a way of protecting itself.”
As the prerecorded announcement at the beginning of the show asks the audience not to “tweet” during the performance - and” tweet” is used several times in the script to replace words that should not be spoken - it leads the audience to believe that certain things should go unsaid and be covered up, not to upset the accepted social or religious climate. In contrast to this concept, the actors involved in this production successfully expose themselves intellectually and emotionally, crossing lines, gender bending and possibly revealing the consequences of growing up as a gay Mormon. Whether with a nuanced expression from a deaf girl, a broad display of religious ceremony, a reenactment of Mormon pioneer women or the frivolity of contentious young girls, these actors are committed to telling a story in an unconventional manner, that mesmerizes and sweeps you into a dream.
It is difficult to assess the amount of information contained in this theatrical piece, but it is certainly food for thought long after you leave the theater. It contains some powerful moments. In the last scene a young closeted gay boy stretches out his arm and asks his friends to pinch him, something the bird princess repeatedly did to others when threatened by those who did not understand. Needing so much to be loved, connected, feel something, anything but they could not oblige, and reject him for the fear of being ostracized. The burden society, religion and politics places on young impressionable minds just may be the root of an evil evolution.
THE MORMON BIRD PLAY
“The Mormon Bird Play” is presented by The Present Company (Elena K Holy, Producing Artistic Director). Directed by Roger Benington.
The cast of “The Mormon Bird Play” includes Jose Dao, Billy Hutto, James Leach, Jordan Parente, Brennan Pickman-Thoon, and Thomas Sullivan.
For performance schedule, ticketing information and more information about the presenting company, please visit www.FringeNYC.org. For mobile ticketing, please visit www.FringeonTheFly.com. The running time is 1 hour and 45 minutes with no intermission.
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 | Permalink | Posted by David Roberts on Friday, August 22, 2014 |
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