By: Darryl Reilly
“I would like to ask, who is that bear in the photo? And what is he whispering to her?” Is a line that is uproariously repeated throughout the beguiling, striking and antic performance piece, Deadclass, Ohio. Influenced by preeminent Polish theater artist Tadeusz Kantor’s (1915-1990) 1975 acclaimed work Deadlclass, it is an enchanting 70 minutes of enigmatic theatricality. A running gag is that the show must stop due to “technical difficulties,” and restarts in a different manner.
Projected old family photos of Polish relatives in the 1940’s incite a dreamy mosaic of recreated memories; jovial answering machine messages, several of which involve Bonefish Grill are pivotal. An eerie, brash talking bear in a cemetery is the haunting coda. The deaths of his Holocaust survivor grandparents in 2020 inspired Mitchell Polonsky to conceive and create Deadclass, Ohio, with Chloe Claudel and Eliya Smith, who wrote the playful original text. The show is presented by The Goat Exchange which was founded in 2016; “We enjoy working with old films, new plays, verbatim transcripts, classic texts, and ladybugs. Our work is interdisciplinary and collaborative.”
The bespectacled and sedate Ms. Claudel serenely portrays Polonsky. The beaming and down to earth Juliana Sass plays his confidant. A hilarious, elderly married couple are among the multiple roles Pete Simpson and Marcus Amaglo vividly perform. With his rumbling voice, wry comic timing and limber physicality, Luke Philip Bosco dazzles as the bear.
Mr. Polonsky and Claudel’s energetic co-direction enforces momentum, achieves cohesion and creates visual élan for the disparate scenes. Claudel’s jaunty choreography enhances the surrealistic dimension. The personable and youthful violinist Sasha Yakub is often onstage performing his swirling, classical-centric original score which recalls the impact of Anton Karas’ zither for The Third Man.
Scenic designer Olivia Vaughn Hern has the stage strategically segmented for narrative purposes and set with key furnishings; scenes flow swiftly and impactfully. Ms. Hern’s costume design is an artful mélange of vintage, contemporary and the fantastical, particularly that bear suit. Lighting designer Abigail Sage’s mesmerizing darkness and gorgeous, muted hues are integral. Polonsky’s sharp sound and aesthetic projection design contribute to the ethereal dynamics. He is also a wry presence at a laptop when making audience announcements.
Mirth and melancholy boldly converge in Deadclass, Ohio.
Deadclass, Ohio (through March 23, 2025)
The Goat Exchange
The Tank, 312 West 36th Street, in Manhattan
For tickets, visit www.thegoatexchange.com
Running time: 70 minutes with no intermission