Review Review
Why It’s Important to Know Something About a Reviewer’s Tastes Before You Trust the Reviews They Write, Part 1: Mare Cognitum
Exhibit A courtesy of Michael Criscuolo at nytheatre.com:
“David McGee’s whimsical new play, Mare Cognitum, asks both its characters and its audience to take big leaps of faith. For the trio of twentysomethings at the center of this poignant dramedy, it’s a matter of believing in the possibility of positive change. Theatergoers, on the other hand, must believe in the magic of the theatre to transport them wherever it wants to. Whether it’s the characters or the audience (maybe—hopefully—it’s both), whoever takes those leaps will be treated to a unique and gratifying experience courtesy of this lovely new production from Theatre of the Expendable.”
Exhibit B courtesy of the Lingual Tremors blog:
“Amid this cultural and generational unease, comes a new generation of literature that graphically charts the lack of options for changing the world.
McGee’s wonderfully written play is an odd little story—odd in a good way. Overlooking the streets of New York, three college-aged 20 somethings (some have graduated, others have not), grapple with whether or not to attend a protest streaming past their windows outside. They are not sure what to protest or why. They are not sure that protest is an effective way to get at the root of what disturbs them. They also experiment with religion, with mixed results. Theirs is an untethered existence, wandering amidst the most heady philosophical questions of our day.
Take some time to see Mare Cognitum; it’s a play that makes you think about the ways in which history can be paralytic.”
Exhibit C courtesy of Judd Hollander at oobr.com
“Playwright David McGee raises a lot of points in his work Mare Cognitum, produced by the normally exceptional Theatre of the Expendable, which recently finished its run in the New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC). Unfortunately, the story continually leaps from one to the other, causing the play to meander all over the place, often leaving the characters, and the audience, totally adrift.
In many cases the work feels like random scenes strung together rather than a cohesive whole, with McGee at times seemingly unsure what to do with the characters or situations. This is especially most true in the “moon trip.” Is it real or not; and if not, what is its purpose? Is this a cautionary warning about the delusions of people unwilling to face reality or a gentle fable about not being afraid to dream even when life as a whole seems utterly futile? It’s never made clear. Nor are the bonds between the characters explored enough to explain why Jeff, and later Thomas, goes along with Lena on her space flight/flight of fancy.”
Writing: 0
Oh, snap!
So, was Mare Cognitum:
- a) a lovely night at the theatre?
- b) the vanguard of a new literary tradition?
- or c) a complete and utter waste of time?
I’ll give you a moment to think.
(moment)
The correct answer, of course, is definitely b. I don’t know how you could even CONSIDER other options.
