My overall impression
I used to think theater was a temporal art form. Like the culinary arts. With food, you can behold (or create) something beautiful, enriching to the bodies and souls of yourself and your audience. But no matter glorious the creation, it will soon be gone forever.
But I was wrong.
Yes, in its corporeal form, theater is temporal. But once viewed, a great piece of theater can stay with you forever. Amazing theater can change you in ways that you can ponder endlessly. Ways that change your perspective about yourself, art, and the universe.
“Senses,” written and directed by Abby Wake, is such theater.
Master chefs will tell you that pure, high-quality ingredients, and a simple, well-executed recipe, are all you need to create magnificence. No fancifulness is needed. No trickery.
Purity. That’s all that matters.
The “Senses” cast is pure, beautiful talent. In scene after scene (which could of have become maudlin, cheesy, excruciating with the slightest misstep)—in each scene, the actors display awe-inspiring control, focus, even playfulness as each rehearsed moment believably unfolds anew.
The piece’s overall recipe: simple, in that the collection of stories so closely reflect normal 21st century life, you’d believe that they happen a thousand times a day, everywhere, in every language. (“Senses” is very personal for Abby, who signed each program, but this is no dreaded slice-of-life triteness.) It’s within that universality, that Ms. Wake’s genius shines through. Abby’s dialogue is crisp and refreshing. And real. It’s utterly delightful to see the players infuse every, single, word with unadulterated truth.
Grotowski would be proud. As would anyone who appreciates brilliant acting.
~ G. S. Morales
