By Ernest Kearney — After a “successful workshop” production, a group of CalArts students have brought “Something in the Air” to HFF22. After seeing it I’m afraid I must question just who told them their workshop staging was “successful.”
The description given of this work is “A dark sci-fi tale of spring break gone wrong” about identity, culture, dreams, and the reality of living as a young Asian in America today.” That is the show I was very much interested in seeing. But, sadly, that was not what I saw. And what I did see could hardly be called a “show” at all.
Chacha Tahng attempts to juggle three balls – writer, director, actress – two of which completely get away from her.
The script has moments, lines of dialogue that seem to hold promise, but these sink beneath a muddled staging. As for “identity, culture, dreams, and the reality of living as a young Asian in America today” those were invisible to me. It is hard to pinpoint if they are there at all. This is partly due to a complete lack of direction and an ensemble of questionable strength.
In this regard, Tahng, along with Shireen Heidari and Brian Nai manage to hold their heads above water. Barely.
Another aspect that hobbled this production and one which an experienced director observing from off the stage would have easily addressed was the show’s lighting design. Most of the action takes place in the darkness of a mysterious subterranean cavern beneath the Denver Airport.* There are any number of means of conveying darkness on stage, but actually having the stage so dark that the actors are all but lost in the obscurity is not the recommended method.
In all, sadly disappointing.
(Featured Image by Hao Feng)
Something in the Air
Played During Hollywood Fringe Festival 2022
www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/7309
Learn More at instagram.com/something.intheair
