by David Wittstock
The Washington Ensemble Theatre kicks off it’s 2009/2010 season with zombies and video games in the bizarre yet original play, “Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom.” Coming on the heels of a fantastic 08/09 season that featured challenging, creative productions such as “God’s Ear” and “Titus” the WET shows we can expect more of the same from the 09/10 season.
“Neighborhood 3” is about a video game that sucks the kids of a suburban neighborhood into a world that parallels their own in everyway; their neighborhood is mapped identically to real life, the houses are set up the same way, etc. the only exception is that the game world is invested with zombies. When events from the game inevitably end up occurring in real life, hell breaks loose and all sorts of household tools, garden or otherwise are used to kill things and people.
If this sounds ridiculous, it’s because it kind of is, however “Neighborhood 3” is not without its higher point. The plot is a convenient way of showing some of the causes (fear, substance abuse, loss) and situations which lead people to live spiritless lives that make them, figuratively, zombies. “Neighborhood 3” mixes in enough humor to keep it from becoming too serious and with a running time of around an hour, it’s not a large commitment if it just isn’t your thing.
From the production side, Makaela Pollock directs a cast of WET newcomers who are all good with Natalie Breitmeyer in particular standing out as the teenage daughter.
“Neighborhood 3” might not be great but it is bold try and you really just don’t see a lot of theatre like it.
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