Being Animal: Make Love happen in 60 sec

Make Love happen in 60 sec - if you want to know how, come see this show!

The directors Susanna Uchatius and James Coomber journeyed into conversation with nature inspired by a quote from writer and ecologist David Abrams: “Humans are tuned for relationship. The eyes, the skin, the tongue, ears and nostril-all are gates where our body receives the nourishment of otherness.”

The 12 cast members, actors of all abilities encouraged and engaged the audience to start their own conversations with nature. Each part of the performance demonstrated this intimate conversation of which we are all part.  I found it deeply moving to see the physically bound and sad at heart able to be given flight, given joy, companionship, chorus and purpose. Uchatius’s vision to validate the voice of artists of all abilities by giving them the respect of challenge, by demanding virtuosity and authenticity has been clearly accomplished in this piece.

The setting was magical. Sculpture Grove overlooking the water on a warm sunny afternoon, a breeze playing with the leaves overhead, birds looking in on the play. It could not have been lovelier. The variety of music performed by Angelo Moroni & James Coomber accentuated each part of the play and each instrument was truly in tune with the content and the natural surroundings. The masks by Gina Bastone were uniquely individualized and detailed. They added a special mystical touch to the scenes.  

The final scene with the big arms of acceptance and love embracing the cast and with it the entire broken and lost world was touching. It reassured the viewers in the audience that it is not too late to start our own intimate conversations and “make love happen”.

A truly wonderful production that should be enjoyed by all.