Berkshire on Stage

by Dan Mayer

Playwright Abe Koogler filtered his own experiences living on an island in Puget Sound into Deep Blue Sound, and the result is a deeply human play about people struggling to make sense of the world and their place in it. Harbinger Theatre‘s production is funny, hopeful, and at times beautiful.

The opening scene begins abruptly as actors line up onstage and begin addressing the audience directly. As characters rush to finish each other’s sentences and occasionally talk over one another, the scene is set for us. These are the islanders, inhabiting a small island in the Pacific northwest, and while they each have their own lives and unique struggles, they are all distressed by the disappearance of a pod of orcas that had previously visited their area every year.

The scenes that follow seem to start and stop just as abruptly, sometimes running concurrently alongside one another, with little downtime in between. The effect can be a little jarring at first, and it’s not immediately clear why scenes are arranged the way they are. Koogler’s writing has a rhythm to it though, and once you get used to the piecemeal delivery of scenes, it can really sing. The script is often funny, and always sounds very natural coming from the actors.

The common element across the whole play is people seeking connections. Ella (Christine Kenefick) battles cancer and confronts her mortality while trying to foster a new friendship with Joy Mead (Carol Charniga), even as she distances herself from her other friends and her daughter Ali (Quinn Solace). Chris (Tony Pallone) tries to reconcile with Mary (Jessica Córdova), swearing he’s a changed man. Leslie (Joyce Reynolds) hopes to find romance with a distant pen pal. John (Dennis Skiba) tries to reach out to Homeless Gary (J. Scala), who seems intent on keeping everyone at arms’ length. Mayor Annie (Kathleen Carey) seems like she just wants to be taken seriously in her unofficial position. Everyone performs their roles admirably, even as their lines overlap at times.

The sets are very simple, consisting mostly of wooden chairs and the audience’s imagination, but they get the point across. Props are few, with the most notable ones being the flowers that end up as a touching arrangement at the end. This minimalist approach lends itself very well to the rapid transitions, ensuring the scenes flow like waves coming one after the other in quick succession.

The opening night performance flew by, and the cast received a standing ovation from the crowd. While the story is bittersweet, there is a gratifying hopefulness to the play’s final moments. It’s a show worth seeing, and makes me very curious about Koogler’s other work. Maybe Harbinger will keep him in mind for future seasons.

Harbinger Theatre presents Deep Blue Sound by Abe Koogler, directed by Chris Foster, runs from Sept 12 – 21, at Steamer No. 10 Theatre, 526 Western Ave in Albany, NY. Cast: Kathleen Carey as Mayor Annie, Carol Charniga as Joy Mead, Jessica Córdova as Mary, Christine Kenefick as Ella, Tony Pallone as Chris, Joyce Reynolds as Leslie, J. Scala as Homeless Gary, Dennis Skiba as John, and Quinn Solace as Ali.

Stage Manager: Rachel Stewart. Poster Artwork: Marc Christopher. Photographer: Emmali Lanfear. Production Photography: Andrew Elder of Best Frame Forward. Sounder Designer: Stephen Wilson. Lighting Designer: David Caso. Assistant Lighting Designer: Cheryl Hussey. Media Outreach: Maureen Aumand. House Manager: Marjorie Geiger. PR Coordinator: Kayla DeMicco.

Performance dates are Friday – Sunday, Sept 12-14 and 19-21. Friday and Saturday curtains are at 7:30 pm, and Sundays are matinees only at 2 pm. Tickets are $15. Runs approximately 90 minutes without intermission. Tickets are available online. Visit https://harbingertheatre.ludus.com for more information.