Review: “Zoetrope” with Exquisite Corpse Company
Featured: Vanessa Lynah and Jules Forsberg-Lary. (Photo: Jess Dalene)
Zoetrope, written by Elinor T Vanderburg, Leah Barker, and Emily Krause, tells the story of a couple that, when quarantine hits, suddenly finds themselves occupying the same space for far more time than either anticipated. Throughout the play we watch as the dramatic and traumatic events of the outside world bleed into their shared space and into their everyday existence. Told in brief snapshots and even allowing the audience to choose particular scenarios, Zoetrope reflects the isolation that many of us have been feeling in a way that doesn’t feel like they’re doing a pandemic play just to do a pandemic play. It started with the characters and how they interact and how that changes and produced a very beautiful play.
The viewing experience of Zoetrope was unlike any I’ve ever seen and is hopefully an example of the kind of unique in-person theatre we will be getting post-pandemic. The entire set (An NYC apartment living space) was enclosed in a trailer with viewers sitting on the outside, listening to the dialogue through headphones and watching through windows. Each window represented a different aspect of the space, either a TV, a desk, or even a fish tank to really give the sense that we are watching something that we aren’t supposed to be seeing. At times, the characters are looking directly at you in such a way that it forces you to contemplate your own isolation over the last year. This is exaggerated even more when they close the curtains on the windows during a scene change and you’re left to just look at your own reflection. I’m not sure if this was an intentional aspect of the show, but it was a powerful moment nonetheless.
The use of space in this production was very well done. Because the space was closed off, they actors were able to convey that sense of suffocation better than a stage would have allowed. You felt the tension as the couple walked around each other and exercised with either elbow touching furniture. This coupled with the excellent writing by Barker, Krause, and Vanderburg really gave the show life and served the space it was in nicely.
The performances by Vanessa Lynah as Angel and Jules Forsberg-Lary as Bae (Even though that was the performance I saw; the show is double cast and on other nights stars Starr Kirkland as Angel and Leana Gardella as Bae) were excellent. Both performers took advantage of the space they were in and captures all of the beautiful and frustrating nuances of living in lockdown. Particularly striking were there interactions in the brief transition moments when no words are spoken and they are simply left to interact in little moments of existing together. These get more strained as the show progresses and are incredible to watch.
My only gripe with the show was how abruptly it ended. And perhaps this was just due to the combination of scenes we chose but there was all of this tension building and the way it released itself, without giving anything away, felt sudden and not earned. Maybe I just wanted to live in the tension a little bit longer or maybe other scenes built it up more, or perhaps the suddenness was the intention, but I certainly walked away with wanting a little bit more to get us there.
All in all, Zoetrope is a shining example of the kinds of innovation that a post-Covid era of live theatre can have. The company took the restrictions given to them and used them to make something that could have only come together in the way that it did. Zoetrope is honest, funny, and heartbreaking and the perfect theatrical experience to welcome you back to being live and in-person.
“Zoetrope” was produced by Exquisite Corpse Company (Liz Frost, Producer)
It was written by ECC writers-in-residence Elinor T Vanderburg, Leah Barker, and Emily
Krause
Directed by Porcia Lewis and Tess Howsam.
Featuring: Vanessa Lynah, Jules Forsberg-Lary, Starr Kirkland, Leana Gardella
Lighting Design by Krista Smith
Sound design and graphic design by Ran Xia
It runs through June 20th. Performances will be on Thursday and Friday at 5:00pm, 5:45pm, 6:30pm,
8:00pm, 8:45pm & 9:30pm; Saturday and Sunday at 3:30pm, 4:15pm, 5:00pm, 5:45pm,
7:15pm, 8:00pm, 8:45pm & 9:30pm at 134 Vanderbilt Ave Brooklyn, NY
11205
For tickets and more info go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/exquisite-corpse-company-presents-zoetrope-tickets-151079377485.