Back in the 1950's people were climbing into bomb cellars and awaiting the end of the world. Cult groups have occasionally predicted the apocalypse and have behaved irrationally, selling their possessions and awaiting transportation to distant galaxies, or have tragically committed mass suicide. When these false prophets arise and the doom and gloom does not take place, how do the people who have clung to such prophecy cope? A book detailing much of the behavior of such a strong belief system gone awry - "When Prophecy Fails" - was used as much of the basis for the construct of "The Future Is a Fancyland Place," now playing at the Allways Theatre and Lounge. The play is co-presented by Goat in the Road Productions and The Cripple Creek Theatre Company.
The method by which this play was written by Andrew Vaught and Chris Kaminstein was unusual. Starting with a "blank canvas," workshop participants drew upon a variety of themes from various sources including the red heifer of biblical reference used for ritual purification in the days of the First and Second Temples. According to Jewish beliefs, the arrival of a genuine red heifer would herald the coming of the Messiah or, in the case of Christian groups, the Second Coming.
Kaminstein directs the play, while Vaught provides lyrics to original music by William Bowling, who also serves as music director.
As Jarville, Ian Hoch stars as the confused survivor of an initial outburst of rage by red cows. The cows are the subjects of scientific experimentation in a lab where they are exposed to high amounts of sound waves. They not only destroy the lab, but stampede all of the surrounding structures with the exception of Jarville's home. Jarville befriends the cows, played by actors using hand-held props, with beer. Hudie (Ross Britz), Jarville's sister Sheila (Emile Whelan), Juniper (Francesca McKenzie) and Britt (Shannon Flaherty) take refuge at the tent of an elderly woman, Beulah (Cecile Monteyne). Before she dies, she puts into place a series of beliefs about the end of the world and singles out Jarville as the one person who shall communicate with the one cow, Esther, who speaks for all others.
Jarville eventually communicates with Esther (also played by Monteyne) and begins to act as the leader of the cult. Matt Standley as Randy and Dave Davis as Slim provide comedy relief as local yokuls who invent a series of new movements to say hello to cows and men. They also improvise a ritual of specific body movments and the inhalation of hay and ingestion of beer. Jarville also uses beer to befriend the red herd.
Jarville expresses interest in Britt, trading a beer for a lightning bug she had captured in a jar. Yet, because of his newfound status as leader, he is unable to act on his feelings for Britt. The relationship he has with Sheila is also complicated when he sends her off to investigate a nearby town and she returns with unexpected news. As Ovit, Vaught is able to interject a voice of reason at the end of the presentation.
Because of the group process by which it was distilled, the script is somewhat muddled. While some might label this as theatre of the absurd, it does have many redeeming features, not the least of which is a well-acted cast. The set design of a farm theme replete with hay by Phil Cramer is quite interesting, while the sound design by Eric Gremillion and Bowling and the lighting by Selena Poznak are both quite powerful.
"The Future Is a Fancyland Place" plays at the Allways Theatre and Lounge, 2240 St. Claude Avenue on Fridays through Sundays at 8:00 p.m. now through October 2. For ticket information call 504-218-5778.
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