Organic Theater Presents TIRESIAS WAS A WEATHERMAN

In the world of Tiresias Was a Weatherman (a “kinda sorta adaptation of Antigone”) a nuclear family that takes their meds consistently is comfortably numb. By altering you brain, you can control the extreme weather that now ravages, often destructively. At the center of this story is Annie (Shaina Schrooten) who longs for the ways things used to be, when seasons still existed, and she could just smoke pot to keep her emotions in check. A serious think piece, the play questions important issues about the ever-increasing power of big pharma and the dangers of extreme climate change.

As the play’s anti-heroine, Annie is caught between a more natural way of life and the brave new world that currently reigns supreme. By failing to take her meds, Annie caused a hurricane that killed her brother. Symbolically Annie is all of us: she knows deep down that pharmaceuticals aren’t a magic, cure all pill. She remembers the good old days, when thoughts and feelings weren’t so heavily regulated and controlled. Annie wants to be free, yet cannot escape the reality of the crazy times she is living through. In one of the most interesting points of the play, Annie examines how the effect of pharmaceutical meds has changed our concept of what is “normal.” Having a genuine emotional reaction is now considered taboo and wrong.

Annie’s mom (the perfect Stepford wife played by Laura Sturm) is almost a completely brainwashed zombie. She chastises Annie for not taking her meds, and causing the hurricane that killed her son. Yet there’s still an overprotective mother (not yet completely suppressed) within, seething with rage about sacrificing her children to the ruling order. Joyce’s husband and Annie’s stepdad (Jack Lewis), is creating a brain inhibitor that erases your consciousness and emotional memory. He has Annie put in a mental hospital with the intention of disabling her emotions via his inhibitor. Symbolically, the play questions how far we are willing to go in order to feel “sane.”

The actors in this cast present grounded performances steeped in strong character work and in many instances, the scenes reflect remarkable similarities to the present day. For this writer, the bleak tone of the play felt a tad too glum, and the play’s ending did not inspire, nor did it provide any kind of resolution. As a writer who greatly enjoys greatly farce as well as seriocomic material, the lack of comedy/tragedy in the plot and storyline here was not a draw. This is a pick, however, for those who enjoy a good think piece.

About the Author

Marla Seidell is an actress, writer, and blogger. She has covered independent film, music, visual art, theater, dining, fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle for a wide range of outlets, including ARTNEWS, Artslant.com, Citysearch.com, the New York Post, Timeout Chicago, Newcity, ALARM, The Daily Herald, ReelChicago.com, and The A.V. Club. Marla has performed in over 30 short and feature films and was nominated for Best Actress at the 2015 Laugh or Die Comedy Film Festival. Favorite stage roles include God (Our Christian Nation, Cornservatory) and various eccentric roles in This, That, and The Other Thing (On The Spot Theatre Co.) Marla graduated Honors, Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Hofstra University, and was a Fulbright in the Netherlands.

See her current work on Marla Seidell Facebook.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE PICTURE THIS POST STORIES BY MARLA SEIDELL