’Tis the season for self-awareness, it seems. In a year that has already endured its fair share of the play-within-a-play concept produced repeatedly upon local stages, along comes Will Eno’s “The Flu Season” at Catalyst Theater Company.
Eno’s conceit begins with an informal introduction to our evening’s two conflicting guides, Prologue (Alexander Strain) and Epilogue (Michael John Casey). Never mind that a man and woman (Dan Via and Ghillian Porter) have just met at the Crossroads Psychiatric Center, or that their misfit doctor (Jim Jorgensen) and nurse (Ellen Young) have an awkward romance budding in the background. The focus quickly shifts to the ongoing drafts of this exact scene, or that character’s dialogue, or the development of internal struggle as composed by the author.
Slowly and sans explanation, Eno’s bizarre meditation on the fruitless search for love haplessly deconstructs the devices of writing while simultaneously attempting to examine the quirky “social architecture” between two neurotic patients seeking therapy in the other. He is in love with language, she is in love with love; and although there is an annoying arrogance to the writing, Eno’s play ultimately abandons the possibility of romantic intimacy for a few excavated ruminations on the intimate relationship between playwright and product.
» The Highlights
At $10 a ticket, you can afford to take a chance on Eno’s cerebrally entrenched rhetoric, especially if you’re curious about the Pulitzer-nominated wordsmith.
» The Lowlights
Unfortunately, most of the evening is spent wondering if and when Eno’s story will ever make it off the ground running. “The Flu Season” unfolds as one long, stretching yawn, at a pace that director Jessica Burgess establishes early on with heavy silences and misguided humor. It’s a dim and dreary production of an unforgivably drab play, and when Prologue wryly suggests, “It’s entertaining to see people in pain, yes?” the immediate and inaudible reply is, “No.”
» The Cast
Burgess’ committed ensemble of actors and Catalyst regulars attempts to unearth unwritten irony to embed in their performances. Naturally, some fare better than others with the Sisyphean task: Via, Jorgensen and Strain in particular add nuance and unique tone to their interpretations, while Porter’s suicidal rage suddenly dissipates with flimsy melodrama.
» Munch on This
Even the title seems utterly pointless in Eno’s self-indulgent “Season.” In a frustrating drama that is half plot and half plotting, Eno’s aimless commentary makes very little sense and, ultimately, proves nothing more than a mere exercise in stylish semantics.
‘The Flu Season’
By Will Eno
Directed by Jessica Burgess
Through June 2
» Venue: Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 Seventh St. SE
» Tickets: $10
» Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays;
2 p.m. Saturdays
» Info: 800-494-TIXS,
www.catalysttheater.org
