VANCOUVER—Pi Theatre's production of The 8th Land (May 15-31, 2008) transports its audiences to an ancient island where scarcity becomes desperately real for a civilization.
The 8th Land plays on the mythology surrounding the environmental and cultural collapse of the land and people of Easter Island. A remote land mass located 3,600 km west of Chile, Easter Island is world famous for the massive stone statues known as moai built by its inhabitants, the Rapa Nui.
The play features lead actor Parnelli Parnes as King "Te-Te" who faces the reality of being unable to feed and protect his people. His land has become nearly desolate with only one of the great palms that used to flourish remaining. "Where is prosperity?" asks Te-Te.
Screenwriter William Maranda's took inspiration for the play nearly 20 years ago from the Classical Greek tragedian Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound.
"I felt like in a way the human condition was bound like Prometheus was to this rock in the sense that we were kind of damned if we do and damned if we don't—because in order to survive you have to use things, and the more you use the less there is to use. So I felt like we were kind of chained to this cycle of necessity for survival," said Maranda.
In the end, Te-Te is boxed in, forced to act in desperate ways while battling with the rules of tradition and the gods. The outcome for his people's survival is uncertain. Perhaps this is the point.
The 8th Land is a deep story, but is made accessible through the familiar setting Maranda chooses for us with Eastern Island and its myths. Other elements, such as the costuming (Marti Wright) which is very well done and engaging, adds much, as does the music, which is all originally composed, varied, and performed live by Joseph "Pepe" Danza.
Pi Theatre uses only professional actors in its productions, and it shows. Lead Parnelli Parnes, well cast for his character, displays much heart and energy as King Te-Te.
Sara Afful, one of the chorus members, stands out in a spectacular way, her body an expressive channel, impeding nothing in the way of herself and the audience. (Other chorus members include Nick Fontaine, Spencer Atkinson and Thrasso Petras).
The play's minor leads (Suzanne Ristic, Alvin Sanders, Linda Quibell and Simon Webb) add power and stage presence to the production, partially due to their roles as ancestors and gods, but also due to their relative age and experience.
The 8th Land succeeds overall in presenting in Greek style what the playwright calls an "environmental tragedy." The Greeks "touch the raw nerve of human existence; they just have a way of exposing it," says Maranda who marks his "positive" results by the fact that he notices the audience sits after the performance, thinking and discussing.
"If we knew the consequences of the actions we were taking perhaps it may assist us in steering toward a better place," suggests Maranda, who hopes the play will travel beyond Vancouver.
The 8th Land is performed at Performance Works on Granville Island from May 15–31, 2008. The performance is open to people of all economic backgrounds thanks to the innovative management of Pi Theatre, who decided to make their entire season free admission. A limited number of tickets are available for reservation at $24 each.
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