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Im faster on the draw with every response, particularly annoyance and despair.
Shes a raw nerve, and any kindness, any touch at all, makes her scream.
Even this growing audience callousness, though, is part of the shows design.
How long does it take before were tired of hearing about other peoples pain?
How long before our tiny little measure of compassion is used up?
No need to wonder anymore.
Arlekin Players Theatre put a stopwatch on it.
It took around 60 minutes.
The original Apple stage series was even better.
Yet in this first self-produced effort,And So We Come Forth, Nelson has wandered into self-indulgence.
The Apple malaise this time around isnt because they fear political inefficacy or COVID or death.
Instead, the playwrights own plaintiveness about irrelevancy has soured the play.
Sure theres a pandemic, sure the countrys in the chipper but young people can saysuchmean things.
(Did someone under 40 at the Public say they didnt need another Apple Family play?)
told her they dont need to hear from her right now.
But I watched that whole 60-minute playhopingfor Furies.
All I heard were Sulks.
The occasional boredom in the third play,Zero Cost House, is actually an old acquaintance.
But this time, I was ready.
I was also willing, even eager, to return.
I think about that showweekly.
It haunts me, which, I think, is worth a little tedium.
InZero Cost House,Okada writes his autobiography.
(The script is translated by Aya Ogawa.)
And that laborious penance isnt something the young Okada is willing to do.
This, the young man says, is joyful fulfillment.
These sequences are very gently performed, but theyre harrowing.
Imagine being confronted with your 20-something self.
Look her in the eyes; tell her which ideals youve grown out of.
Just as it was in 2013,Zero Cost Houserevels in hesitation.
Where is the compression?
Where is the sense of time-not-wasted?
Okadas writing simply doesnt work that way.
Maybe if wed listened in 2013?
Well, Pig Iron is willing to tell us again.
But still, I wouldnt have made the mistake of missing it.
My younger self would have never forgiven me.
State vs. Natasha Baninaruns through July 12.
And So We Come Forthruns through August 31.
Zero Cost Houseruns through July 3.
