Interludes

VIEWPOINTS – Style over substance: Emma Horwitz’s MARY GETS HERS and Abhishek Majumdar’s 9 KINDS OF SILENCE

• By drediman
• October 1, 2023
• No Comments

Sometimes stylized storytelling gets in the way of a theatrical work’s underlying intent. This was the case with a pair of new Off-Broadway plays I recently caught. Read on for my thoughts.

MARY GETS HERS
The Playwrights Realm at MCC Theater
Through October 14

First up is Mary Gets Hers (SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED) by Emma Horwitz. Presented by The Play Realm at MCC Theater, the play – a quirky retelling of Hrotsvitha of Gandersheim’s medieval play Abraham, or the Rise and Repentance of Mary – chronicles the story of one Mary, an abandoned orphan raised by religious hermits who proceeds to live a rich, eclectic life full of contrasting experiences. Horwitz and director Josiah Davis lean in on giving the piece a relentlessly whimsical tone, unfortunately at the consequence of clarity and substance. That being said, I found much to enjoy about the loony performances by the game all female/non-binary cast – but even they seemed more appropriate for a sketch comedy than a cohesive play. In the title role, Haley Wong valiantly churns out a terrific performance charmingly buoyed by child-like wonder.

9 KINDS OF SILENCE
PlayCo at Performance Space 122
Through October 7

Then down in the East Village at Performance Space 122, you’ll find PlayCo’s production of 9 Kinds of Silence (SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED) by Abhishek Majumdar. Set in a fictitious nation-state during seemingly apocalyptic times, the play depicts one soldier’s return home from a ceaseless war. Refusing to speak, he endangers not only himself but also his country’s dictatorial control over its citizens. First off, the production looks and sounds fantastic – the authentically-rendered set and costume design by Jian Jung and the atmospheric original music and sound design by M. florian Staab immerse audiences as soon as they walk into the space. In its intentionally vague depiction of human society, the play calls to mind the works of Caryl Churchill. However, instead of crystallizing themes and issues, Majumdar play is grounded by clunky dialogue and forced histrionics.