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Regional Reviews: Minneapolis/St. Paul Red and the Mother Wild Also see Deanne's review of Witch and Arty's review of The Mousetrap
Using a blank stage, simple costumes, and their bodies and voices, performers Jack Bechard, Mark Benzel, Amber Bjork, Peyton McCandless, Derek Lee Miller, Adelin Phelps and Allison Vincent, with the assistance of lighting by designer Dante Benjegerdes, create the atmosphere of a small mountain community and the deep dark woods and wolves that draw Red (Adelin Phelps). Everything from the water faucets to the trees in the forest are mimed and voiced by ensemble members. In addition to the evocative atmospheric physical sound effects created by their bodies and voices, from the water in the faucet to the birds in the woods, the ensemble sing traditional Appalachian music to poignantly underscore and deepen various moments in the story. The immersive production is performed in a brisk 75-minutes without an intermission. Red and the Mother Wild tells a moving story of healing and rebirth, love and community, aptly handled by an adept and fluid committed ensemble of engaging performers. Red is a foster child of the community, and her relationships to three very different mother-figures, played by Amber Bjork, Peyton McCandless, and Allison Vincent, form the heart of the piece. The content warning for attempted sexual violence is a single visceral traumatic moment, well-acted and serving as a catalyst for Red's ultimate journey into the woods. I highly recommend this production. Transatlantic Love Affair's performance style is innovative, joyful and invigorating, and it is a pleasure to see strong female characters voicing Red's themes of survival and to be assured, as noted in Nelson's production notes, "howling helps." Red and the Mother Wild, presented by Transatlantic Love Affair, runs through April 12, 2025, at Illusion Theater, Center for Performing Arts, 2754 Pleasant Avenue South, Minneapolis MN. For tickets and information, please visit www.illusiontheater.org. |
