Dark Water, written by David Stallings and directed by Heather Cohn, is a play inspired by the tragic effects of the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill on the Gulf Coast. The story is told entirely through the perspective of the mostly marine wildlife affected, with varying levels of success by a cast of very human actors. The actors do not actually dress like animals; rather, their costumes are a hybrid of animal and human, utilizing unique colors and fabrics. According to Stallings, the intent behind this was to underscore the effects that greed for oil and money have on all creatures. Particularly noteworthy are Brian Sillman’s white linen suit-clad seagull, Gullet, and Antonio Miniño’s loyal, bubbly dolphin, Daedalus; a school of fish that mindlessly believe in the existence and benevolent powers of a sea urchin they have never actually seen are another memorable aspect of the production. In the interest of following the eco-friendly ideas it espouses, director Cohn says that almost every element of the set and costumes is made from reusable materials, a truly admirable effort that should be made by more people in their daily lives. The play is not quite as dark as one might expect from the subject matter, as its cynicism is couched in humor, music, and puppetry. Dark Water runs about two hours, which at times feels a bit long, but is overall an enjoyable, thought-provoking night at the theatre.
Dark Water is playing through March 29th at The Theater at the 14th Street Y and tickets can be purchased here.
