The 8th land

By William Maranda. Directed by John Wright. A Pi Theatre production. At Performance Works on Saturday, May 17. Continues until May 31

The design and acting are excellent, but the play itself is excruciatingly boring.

William Maranda’s new script, The 8th Land, is static. Te-Te, the last king of Easter Island, doesn’t know what to do. Because his group has cut down all but one of the formerly numerous palm trees, the soil has become barren and starvation is stalking the village. Unfortunately, Te-Te repeats this information ad nauseam.

Though pleasingly poetic at times, Maranda’s writing is so abstract that it rarely achieves any resonance. Te-Te talks to a chorus of flies, three gods, and his mother. The conversations with the gods are philosophical debates with an obvious point: ecological devastation is a bad thing. Te-Te and his mom speak like noble savages. Te-Te says, “I want my people to live with happiness and know wonder.”

The overall pace is somnambulant. Apparently, Maranda and director John Wright are referencing their notions of classical Greek performance style. That’s no excuse.

Given the circumstances, the actors fare remarkably well. As Te-Te, Parnelli Parnes is focused and passionate. He honours the parameters that have been set without ever hitting a wrong note or looking ridiculous, which is a triumph. Linda Quibell, who plays the goddess Hiva, also does a particularly good job of taking emotion to a grand scale without losing authenticity.

The show’s design elements are spectacular. Marti Wright’s costumes, which include a cedar-bark cape and what looks like a feathered robe, are knockouts. Joseph “Pepe” Danza’s live percussion quickens the pulse and Colleen Lanki’s choreography provides the evening’s most exciting moments.

If only these talents had been applied to a better script.