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| Anna (Melissa Ortiz, left) shows Shelly (Katie Rubin) and Malcolm (Christian Haines) one of the species (Aaron Wilton) she hopes to preserve with the help of their funding. |
Ever since she was a kid, Anna Aguirre (Melissa
Ortiz) has wanted to go to Mars.
She gets her chance in Ruben Grijalva’s “Anna
Considers Mars,” presented by Stanford Repertory Theater.
However, she has obligations on Earth, mainly her
mother, Renata (Wilma Bonet), who has lung cancer and expects Anna to take care
of her.
Anna also has founded the Center for the
Preservation of Noncharismatic Species, endangered but ugly, disgusting
creatures that nevertheless are important links in the food chain.
In the meantime, she yearns to be one of the people being
sent to Mars to colonize it and preserve the human species as global warming
destroys more and more habitable land.
Going there also would continue her relationship
with Malcolm Phillips (Christian Haines), whom she meets when trying to raise
money for the center.
Directed by Susi Damilano, the six-person cast in
this futuristic, absurdist comedy-drama is superb. Besides Ortiz, Bonet and Haines,
the only other actor playing one role is Søren Oliver. He appears as formally
attired Carson, Anna’s virtual assistant.
The other two actors, Katie Rubin and Aaron Wilton,
play a variety of roles.
Rubin plays Shelly Lawrence, a strait-laced
corporate funder who has already been to Mars. She also shows up as the weird,
dowdy, religious Dorothy from Minnesota. She excels in both contrasting roles
as well as several others.
Wilton appears as the grotesque creatures that Anna
seeks to preserve; as Darryl, her ex-husband; as Ishmael, an apish, near-naked
fellow; as a greedy doctor; and as others. Like Rubin, he’s terrific all
around.
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| Renata (Wilma Bonet, foreground) and Darryl (Aaron Wilton) watch as Malcolm (Christian Haines) and Anna (Melissa Ortiz) await liftoff to Mars. |
As Renata, Anna’s mother, Bonet is wonderfully
amusing and manipulative. In some ways, she’s symbolic of what’s happening to
Earth. She knows that smoking has caused her illness and continuing to smoke
would hasten her death, yet she can’t resists cigarettes.
Likewise, most people realize what climate change is
doing to Earth, yet they continue to pursue the activities and substances that
cause it.
The production is enhanced by Brooke Jennings’
character-specific costumes. Also contributing are the lighting by Brittany
Mellerson, sound by Ian Walker and scenic design consultation by Sarah Phykitt.
“Anna
Considers Mars” was commissioned by Planet Earth Arts and co-produced by
PlayGround, both based in the Bay Area. It comes directly to Stanford Rep after
its premiere at Potrero Stage in San Francisco with the same director and
professional cast. Stanford Rep is presenting it as part of its annual summer
festival, whose theme this year is The Environment & Social Justice.
Running about two hours and 20 minutes with one
intermission, it will continue only through Aug. 11 at the Nitery Theater, Old
Union, 514 Lasuen Mall, Building 590, Stanford.
Photos by Mellophoto.com
