carried away on the crest of a wave:stylistically simple and attractive throughout

carried away on the crest of a wave  by David Yee, directed by Kim Collier. An NAC English Theatre Production

Throw a pebble into a pool of water and the circles of ripples spread far beyond the point of entry. Magnified a thousand times, the aftermath of a massive natural disaster such as the December 2004 tsunami that claimed more than 250,000 lives spread around the world.

In carried away on the crest of a wave, playwright David Yee demonstrates the aftershocks in lives changed forever in many parts of the world far removed from the tsunami in Asia.

Presented as nine vignettes, based on interviews with survivors, Yee’s underlying theme is that “we are all connected; none of us is alone.”

The group, from the first scene explaining a shift in the world’s axis as a cause of the disaster to the last featuring a guilt-ridden meteorologist who misread the signs leading up to the tsunami, inevitably vary in impact. Yet, the overall impression, as directed by Kim Collier and enhanced by Camellia Koo’s set, Gerald King’s lighting and Brian Linds’ soundscape, is quietly powerful with a continuing resonance long after the show is over.

It is likely that each audience member will have a different favourite vignette. For me, the Orphan Boy story, in which an adult orphan delivers a young girl, whose parents died in the tsunami, to meet her uncle, holds the greatest charm.

 

The rough tale of the Toronto DJ mocking public reaction to distant disasters and the discussion between a Muslim architect and a Catholic priest (“Never have a religious discussion with a Muslim,” he warns) carry a different type of punch. So do the tales of direct loss — a man mourning his wife in the company of a high-priced call girl or a mother kidnapping another child, when her own son drowns. Less interesting are two symbolic stories, one a swimmer trying to change the balance of the world, which is said to sit on the back of a turtle, and the other about a man sitting in a deep hole for four and a half years.

 

The ensemble works smoothly together in the changing roles. Particularly strong are John Ng in each of his three roles, Kayvon Khoskam as the DJ and Zaib Shaikl as the hapless radio station administrator Sanjay.

 

Stylistically simple and attractive throughout, the clarity of direction and design maximize the charm of carried away on the crest of a wave.

 

carried away on the crest of a wave continues at the National Arts Centre Theatre to April 1.

 

Director: Kim Collier

Set and costumes: Camellia Koo

Lighting: Gerald King

Sound: Brian Linds

 

Cast:

Crumb/Diego……………………………….Ryan Hollyman

Runner/Rick………………………………..Kayvon Khoshkam

Child………………………………………..Clarissa Lauzon

Ma’mar/Chili……………………………….Chiraig Naik

Hardboiled man,Kintaro/Vermin……………John Ng

Reporter/Amal/Sanjay/Nguyen……………..Zaib Shaikh

Swimmer/Uncle/Makoto…………………….Jonathan Tan

Lenore……………………………………….Adrienne Wong

Beckett………………………………………Jenny Young

Jasmine………………………………………Andrea Yu