On an island in the Pacific Northwest, a group of neighbors and friends gather to sing Christmas carols, creating a playful dissonance as each one sings off-key. The same can be said about the community portrayed in Abe Koogler’s newest play, “Deep Blue Sound”. Although the ensemble cast shares equally in the narrative, the story primarily orbits around Ella, engagingly portrayed by Maryann Plunkett, who is dying of cancer and has decided to utilize Washington State’s Death With Dignity Act. The play is part of Clubbed Thumb’s successful incubator series Summerworks and runs for a succinct 90 minutes.
Despite a large and diverse set of characters, the actors in Arin Arbus’ production prove to be talented and capable of filling in the outlines of Koogler’s script. They manage to wring out chuckles, lumps in the throat, and at times, both, even if there are times when it’s hard to discern which character the actors are playing. Finn, for instance, manages to land laughs from nearly every line, whether she’s portraying a tipsy mayor who is a little drunk on power, or a mother flustered by her son asking about her thoughts on his dance practice, and her hesitant reaction is both funny and heartbreaking at the same time.
Ella and her small group of acquaintances are trying to solve the mystery of why a pod of orcas that has been frequenting their waters for generations has gone missing, leading to an inefficient investigation led by symbolic mayor Annie (Crystal Finn). Ella’s friend John (Thomas Jay Ryan) and her other acquaintance, a horse groomer named Les (Jan Leslie Harding), have a tendency to try to reach out to lonely strangers. The characters might share a love for their island life, but what links them is the pining for companionship.
Koogler skillfully avoids the trap of heavy-handed psychologizing that burdens many similar shows. While the play does move in circles at times, it deserves praise for not hitting the audience over the head with its message. Underneath the play’s eccentricities lies a conventional heart, and the plot about the orcas feels more like a device to bring together the characters. Admittedly, it also provides a touching and poignant ending, underscoring the reassuring comforts of the familiar home – something that anxious islanders can truly appreciate.
Deep Blue Sound
Through June 15 at the Wild Project, Manhattan; clubbedthumb.org. Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes.
