Thursday, July 30, 2009

Fringe 2009 - OOTS - Habitat - A Documentary Theater Project

"So, what comes to your mind when you think of home?"

Rachel Anne Johnson

Habitat - A Documentary Theater Project

from Duluth, MN

Stories composed by those living in the shelters and on the streets and shores of Duluth, examining the meaning of home. Desires and hopes are revealed when one answers the question, "Where do you live?"

When Rachel Anne Johnson moved to Duluth she immediately noticed the prevalence of poverty and homelessness. only 19 years-old, Rachel decided to document the stories of those living in the shelters, on the streets, along the shore - even in a bar - in Duluth. Through in-depth interviews that illustrated where people live, how people live and why people live she revealed their hopes and desires.


This was kind of an odd preview because it started with someone telling us what the show was about, and then she and three other actors performed the first scene from the script which - well, told us what the show was about. I almost wish they'd dumped the introduction to the introduction and allowed themselves a little more time to give us a bit more of the script. But what we got was pretty straightforward. As it says above, and even in the title, it's documentary theater - culled from the transcripts of interviews with homeless people about the nature of homelessness and home. Big cast, about a dozen in all, worthy subject, good intentions. Nothing fundamentally wrong in the execution. Didn't thrill me, but my interests tend to lie elsewhere so that's probably a big part of it. There's an audience for this play. I hope they find their way to it.

Their website - www.habitatdocumentary.blogspot.com

Their show page

No comments: