Review: I Am Saying This Right Now (The Plagiarists)

I Am Saying This Right Now

Conceived and Edited by Kaitlin Byrd
Directed by Paul Kastner and Kim Miller
Berger Park Cultural Ctr, 6205 Sheridan (map)
thru Feb 11 | tickets: $15-$20   | more info

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An earnest sound off

The Plagiarists presents

I Am Saying This Right Now

Review by Lauren Whalen

The Plagiarists are an earnest bunch – and in an era where cynicism prevails, that’s a wonderful thing. The company’s latest work, I Am Saying This Right Now is never less than genuine in its examination of memory through oral history. The production’s excellent use of a nontraditional theater space and fascinating production elements almost compensate for a storyline that is somewhat less than satisfying.

A collaboration of thirteen writers edited by Kaitlin Byrd, I Am Saying This Right Now is inspired by New York sound artist and archivist Tony Schwartz, who archived some 30,000 recordings without ever leaving his neighborhood. Using techniques developed by artist and cartoonist Lynda Barry, the writing group used audio tapes from their childhoods, interviews and messages left on a public voice mail box to create a non-linear “mix tape”-type narrative about growing up and moving on while never forgetting the people and sounds along the way. Linked by the Documentarian (Ken Miller), who is haunted by visions of the mysterious Wabansia (Kate Nawrocki), the cast members portray a plethora of ages, personalities and relationships as they use sound to work toward a collective memory.

Directors Paul Kastner and Kim Miller take an innovative, daring approach to match the magnitude of the work. While hardly a conventional theater space, the Berger Park Cultural Center is ideal for this script. Over a fast-paced hour and a half, actors and audience alike rotate through three rooms: a living/study area festooned with various recording devices from different decades (side note: who thought we’d see the day when a cassette player looks antique?), a converted dining room with dusty liquor bottles and a record player and a windowed space with the hushed aura of a chapel. While a bit jarring at first, the constant movement contributes to a unique sense of energy and togetherness. Led by the directors and managed by company members Layne Manzer and Gregory Peters, the production team deserves the utmost kudos for creating warmth and intimacy: as the snow blew outside the Cultural Center, the audience inside huddled closer and listened harder.

If only the stories had been more interesting. A few moments carried dignified realism, such as a young man’s tale of disillusionment with his beloved grandfather and a son’s mournful observation of his late father: “he wasn’t perfect, but he was mine.” However, more diversity in the vignettes – rather than yet another tale of “boy lusts after dream girl” or “everyone gets drunk and wacky at postcollege party” – would have made the piece that much richer and more riveting. There’s a fine line between relatable and indulgent, which I Am Saying This Right Now straddles a bit too often.

It’s always refreshing to see an ambitious work, presented with care by a company that incorporates multiple art forms to create something new. There’s a lot to respect about I Am Saying This Right Now, namely the show’s main theme of decoding the soundtrack of life. The production’s memorable execution and careful design may have been enriched by more compelling sounds and stories – but on the surface, these two factors are almost enough.

Rating: ★★★

I Am Saying This Right Now continues through February 11th at Berger Park Cultural Center, 6205 N. Sheridan Road (map), with performances Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20, $15 for students and seniors, and can be purchased by phone (800-838-3006) or online at brownpapertickets.com. More information at ThePlagiarists.org. (Running time: 90 minutes with no intermission)

All photos by Lindsay Verstegen