Randuwa II: Mosaic Theatre: The Art Of Care

"The Art of Caring" is a bit of experimental theatre. Rather than a single playwright, it is the work of a consortium of writers--namely, the ensemble actors who are performing it. It was conceived of and shepherded along by Derek Goldman and depends on the talents and stories of a diverse cast of seven actors.

As the play unfolds it quickly becomes apparent that there is no plot, but rather an idea: What does Caring look like. Alone, in duos, in trios, and altogether the actors explore ideas and possible answers by revealing their own experiences. Both as care giver and care receiver, the audience relives some of the most intimate and vulnerable moments in these extraordinary 7 people's lives.

If you are in need of an emotional cleansing, a deep cathartic connection with other human beings--this is the show for you. Personally, I found it very moving. So much so that it moved my opinion of one of the actors involved. There is something tremendously powerful after watching actors perform dozens of roles, to suddenly see them for who they are in real life. It creates a palpable feeling of belonging.

Prior to the show's start, cast members wander through the audience asking various members to tell them about people who've cared for them and/or people whom they've cared for. At the very end, the cast recited the names of individuals whom they had portrayed or who's experiences had been highlighted in their vignettes, and then just continued on naming those individuals that members of the audience had elevated to them before the show. It was very moving. That's really the power of this production. It traverses a range of highly emotional content without becoming maudlin or trite.

In a category of its own, I really enjoyed "The Art of Caring."