Alternating Currents, the Queens segment of The Working Theater’s “5 Boroughs/1 City” theater initiative, examines the relationship of two newlywed electricians who move from a run-down apartment in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn to a home of their own in Electchester, an apartment complex in Flushing, Queens.
Alternating Currents hones in on the concept of community, and what it means to be a part of something bigger than yourself. In a city of 8 million people, it’s easy to be swept up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life without ever laying down roots, supporting the theory that people in New York never get to know their neighbors. Alternating Currents flips that theory on its head through its exceptional cast, almost all of whom play multiple characters living in Electchester. This is furthered by the juxtaposition to the Pamonok public housing complex cross the street, which elicits not-so-neighborly behavior from the residents of Electchester.
Luke and Elena are enticed by the low cost and spacious apartment they move into, and at first, their neighbors’ friendliness is a welcome change from the anonymity of life in New York City. This novelty quickly fades as it becomes clear that life in Electchester involves excessive participation in various committees, clubs, and volunteer work that slowly take over Luke and Elena’s free time.
The couple must grapple with the role Electchester and its residents play in both their lives and their relationship, all of which is illuminated by the constant presence of the community. It is an intimate look at what it means to be part of a community, and what you’re willing to sacrifice personally to be a part of the whole.
Alternating Currents is currently running at Urban Stages on 30th Street in Manhattan through May 20th, and will run from May 22-24th in Staten Island, closing on May 26th in Brooklyn.
