The Actors’ Reading Collective (ARC), born out of the pandemic, moves from Zoom readings to its first fully-staged theatrical production with Annie Baker’s The Antipodes. It’s a surreal look at the nature of storytellers that questions why story is important. Perhaps not an obvious choice for this particular company, it runs at the Marin Shakespeare Company’s Fourth Street Theater in San Rafael through December 1.
Eight people are seated at a conference table, brainstorming for… something. It’s never clear what they are pitching ideas for. It could be a film, a book, a TV show, or perhaps they are brainstorming reality itself. All that really matters is that they tell a story about something monstrous. They must draw inspiration from their personal stories, never use cell phones at the table and, no matter what, not include any elves or trolls.
Baker’s writing is not for everyone. More concerned with the heady, cerebral concepts being bandied around, her characters can lack specificity. Depending on the director and cast, bringing those characters to life can be a blessing or a curse. Director Alyson Schacherer meets the challenge with good casting, a unique eye for blocking, and a keen sense of pacing.
Schacherer makes full use of the new theater’s setup. People can lie on the floor or the table if they want, and due to the theater’s steep angle, they are always visible. The best example of the strength of this blocking comes late in the play when Adam (Samuel Ademola) gives a beautiful monologue while lying on his back on the floor.
Also of note is Harry Davis as young note-taker Brian who, in a fantastic (wordless) scene, demonstrates the power of story to transcend language. Isabel Langen’s Sarah tells a story that, though fabulistic in its very nature, is delivered with such matter-of-fact forthrightness that it comes off as something mundane.
The simple set (Kate Boyd) helps anchor the audience in the liminal world of conference rooms without being boring. The sound design (James Ard) Is similarly subtle and brilliant in its minimalism.
Costuming (Cassandra Carpenter) puts the audience at ease with its normalcy, except for Sarah’s. Her costumes grow more interesting as the play proceeds. They become more assertively colored, making us wonder what Sarah’s real role is in this creative confederacy.
The Antipodes is an excellent piece to inject some surrealism into your life. However, it runs for two hours with no intermission. Be prepared to challenge your cerebrum… and your bladder.
ARC presents ‘The Antipodes’ through December 1 at the Marin Shakespeare Company 514 4th Street Theater, San Rafael. Thurs – Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 1pm. $20-$100. 415.388.5208. marinshakespeare.org
