Whether you’re on the vast endless seas or stuck in your own living room day after day, the sameness of routine juxtaposed with the creeping sense of danger can do a number on your mind. Two current online offerings from Chicago theaters—Theatre in the Dark‘s live radio-play adaptation of Moby-Dick and Strawdog‘s anthology of short (mostly) solo video pieces, How Do We Navigate Space?—address that paradox.
On the other hand, a scene between Ahab and Pip, the Black cabin boy, allows us a rare glimpse into Ahab’s vulnerability and desire for connection—but only on his terms. “Thou touchest my inmost center, boy, I feel thou art tied to me by cords woven of my heartstrings. Let us rivet these two hands together, the black one with the white.” Of course, being touched by Pip’s innocence doesn’t stop Ahab from sending Pip into harm’s way and eventual death, which proves that even in their attempts to reach others, solipsistic white men bent on justifying themselves will always fuck things up.
Through a series of videos combining monologues, movement, and music, we get reflections on themes and variations of living through this past year—hibernation, self-care, wishful thinking, regrets, anxiety, and anger among them. Six artists are credited with devising the final pieces (Yuchi Chiu, Terri Lynne Hudson, Gloria Imseih Petrelli, Josie Koznarek, Erik Strebig, Mah Nu) and five of them perform. (Nu doesn’t appear on camera, but created much of the underscoring in the show.)
A segment called “Devour” shows the ensemble connecting with others via Zoom as a sensual journey. By contrast, the COVID-enhanced nightmare of what is endured by those who help provide the food we literally devour comes through in a monologue delivered by Strebig. Embodying a restaurant employee forced to take a second job in a grocery store, the character relishes small acts of resistance and retaliation—wearing a nametag that isn’t his real name, quietly crushing an impossible customer’s bag of potato chips. Juxtaposed with these disheartening anecdotes of people behaving badly are shots of flyers and collection bins for mutual aid groups gathering groceries for those in need.
Moby Dick, through 4/10, Thu-Sun 8 PM CST, Sun 7 PM CST, theatreinthedark.com, $20-$30 suggested donation.How Do We Navigate Space?, through 4/18, available online anytime with purchase, strawdog.org, pay what you can ($15 suggested donation).
