"See What I Wanna See," a musical inspired by several Japanese short stories, is an emotional and philosophical cyclone. Opening tonight at 8 p.m. at Production Workshop at T.F. Green Hall and running through Nov. 11, it explores the darker sides of truth, perspective and reality.
The show, written by Michael John LaChiusa, is based on three short stories of Japanese writer Ryunosuke Akutagawa. Many aspects of the production reflect these origins. Three rectangular, white screens stand like soldiers at attention at the back of the stage, often impassive, but occasionally lit in color that reflects the tone of each scene.
"LaChiusa talks about the three stories unfolding like a Japanese screen painting," director Chris Tyler '10 said.
The opening scene, "Kesa and Morito," is set in medieval Japan, and the actors wear robes evocative of traditional Japanese clothing, with consonant colors and large, flowing sleeves. The following two scenes jump across time and space, moving to 1950s Central Park and then to the same locale today.
In every scene, three screens change color or go blank to match the mood. Lighting alternates between interrogative spotlight and floating spots of green, matching shifting perspectives with story lines. Exotic instrumentation, like the shakuhachi, a traditional Japanese flute, floats through the air from the orchestra pit.
"What the play suggests is that perhaps if you have faith, the mystery is enough," Tyler said, citing a description mentioned by Professor of Theater, Speech and Dance Spencer Golub in the course Tyler takes with him. Indeed, the musical leaves the audience with an overarching feeling of uncertainty. Theatergoers will walk away from the performance shaky, confounded and maybe even stark raving mad - and they'll like it.
"I'm really excited for it. It's really cool," said actor Matt Bauman '10, who plays both a thief and news anchor. "It's really nonlinear. It's going to confuse the audience, but intentionally," he said, wearing one of his costumes, a black leather jacket and gloves with cut-off fingertips.
A theme never explicitly mentioned is the whirlwind of truth and fiction, lies and confusion, all of which surrounds the fall of the Twin Towers. The audience shares this confusion and the subsequent existential crises experienced by the characters. The production, under the musical direction of Trevor Pollack '09, doesn't fit the lighthearted musical archetype.
The stark scenery is well suited to the play. The actors' abilities to assume new personas create sub-universes in every scene, delving into the depths of one character's mind in one instant and switching effortlessly to a wholly different psyche in the next. Their voices are all magnificent and have a strong sense of space and keen emotional nuance.
Complementing their individual abilities, the ensemble cast is particularly cohesive. The most powerful scenes occur when Bauman, Emily Borromeo '09, Michael Williams '10, Lee Taglin '10 and Katelyn Miles '11 are all on stage, working well with the material and one another.
Tyler said the production is going well due to the cooperative crew. "It's been very much collaborative - for everyone involved," said Tyler. "Everyone really developed their own part."
With its dramatic heights, wonderful music, captivating images and deliciously interesting philosophical implications, the musical is an engaging and thought-provoking way to spend a weekend night. Performances run Friday through Monday at 8 p.m, with an additional showing at 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets become available at T.F. Green one hour before each of the performances.
