TALKBACK: David Stallings & Heather Cohn of “Dark Water,” with Robin Madel & Kyle Rabin

Manhattan Theatre Works presents "Dark Water" by David Stallings, directed by Heather CohnDavid Stallings‘s play Dark Water is the tale of a mother turtle as she and her son negotiate the sea along with a host of other animals — like a land-loving dolphin, a vain heron, and a gluttonous gull — to save her daughters, who have been trapped by the titular menace. Director Heather Cohn‘s production features a colorful (and largely recycled!) set, music, puppets, and inventive projections to tell the moving tale of these animals.

Don’t let that description fool you — this isn’t a kids show.

Rather, it’s a righteous statement about the damage caused by the Deepwater Horizon blowout, the largest off-shore oil spill in US history. And sadly, although it comes almost four years after the initial tragedy, it can still be considered timely, because the environment is still dealing with the fallout.

At the performance on March 20, Robin Madel and Kyle Rabin of Grace Communications Foundation were on hand to lead a talkback on the environmental issues of the show. It was a great way to follow up the performance, and GSAS! was there to record it — it’s presented here in its entirety.

Don’t worry if you don’t remember just what happened in the Gulf in April of 2010; a brave audience member sums it up nicely in the discussion, before Robin & Kyle discuss the effects of this and other oil spills, what prompted David to write the play, and Heather’s fear (and ultimate triumph) of directing this “impossible to direct” play.

“Don’t eat bluefin tuna…BLACKOUT.”

Manhattan Theatre Works presents

Dark Water

by David Stallings
directed by Heather Cohn

3 remaining performances
Thursday, March 27 @ 8PM
Friday, March 28 @ 8PM
Saturday, March 29 @ 8PM

The 14th Street Y
344 E. 14th Street
Manhattan

tickets: $18 ($15 students/$12 seniors) available via OvationTix

Manhattan Theatre Works presents "Dark Water" by David Stallings, directed by Heather CohnManhattan Theatre Works presents "Dark Water" by David Stallings, directed by Heather CohnManhattan Theatre Works presents "Dark Water" by David Stallings, directed by Heather CohnManhattan Theatre Works presents "Dark Water" by David Stallings, directed by Heather CohnManhattan Theatre Works presents "Dark Water" by David Stallings, directed by Heather Cohn

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