This Californian Neo-Western Opens Up A ‘Hole in the Sky’ (The NoPro Review)
The lastest site-adaptive piece from LA’s Circle X Theatre Company
Having been in the city now for a few years, it’s never dawned on me just how little we actually experience the outdoors. LA, for the most part, is void of any sort of meaningful nature. Heck, waking up to birds chirping or going to sleep to the sound of crickets has become some sort of unique novelty.
I realized this as I drove out to Hole in the Sky written by Octavio Solis, a new site adaptive peace by Circle X Theatre Company that takes place on a horse ranch. As I stepped out of my car and into a deep, natural darkness (with the sounds of crickets chirping, I might add), I was immediately refreshed to the idea that I was experiencing a completely different Southern California than I was used to. It was very much a new world — right out of the heart of a western.
With a title like Hole in the Sky, that might be something you’d expect. However, there are no gun fights here. Plenty of familial and small town conflict, to be sure, but all actions center around the highly politicized matter of the California drought. In this story, each character represents an opinionated party. Each side has something to lose and something to gain and in this story there’s no clear winner.
When the water runs out, economies shutter and everyone must take a side.
For such a complicated issue, it would be far simpler for Circle X to approach with some bias — as to weed out the complications for the sake of time and mental energy, if nothing else. But I can happily say that Hole in the Sky deals with this incredibly complex and emotional issue like a seasoned interviewer, taking no side at all but diving directly into the emotional heart of each opposing viewpoint.
Solis ensures that each of the political figureheads walk around with some humanity, too. Every character had a new voice, a new personality with each separate character they encountered. More than the individual development, the characters had interconnected, gossip-y backstories that made the ensemble on stage feel entirely like a group of small towners. This was only furthered assisted by the fact that the work was site adapative. It very much felt like we were peering behind a curtain to experience some sort of voyeuristic artistry. Bravo to Kate Jopson and her direction and use of space.
And though the work did so many things right, I genuinely felt that it lost much of its focus in the latter half. The heart, which was primarily within the internal conflicts boiling, were largely tossed aside with a “hand of God” scenario that was largely unnecessary and only served as a distraction for the meaty conversations that could have taken place by individuals at their breaking point. It eventually found its footing by the end, but much of the commotion felt out of place in an otherwise focused work.
This is essentially a proscenium work that takes place outside — a site adaptive work that is classified by its atmosphere more than its innovation. There was a short tour that could be taken when you arrive, but once you take your seat, you cease to exist.
Which isn’t necessarily bad. Instead of immersed, I often felt like I was witnessing a live action movie. A more cinematic, more romanticized version of stables that were enhanced by the tech and blocking. The use of levels, in particular, is what I found striking. During one moment there was some great fight choreography that took place in front truck headlights. Naturalistic and cool in a way that just couldn’t take place on stage. For LA theatre, which in recent years has found site specific and immersive works as a way to survive, I am more than open to seeing more types of these works.
Though the story was somewhat unfocused, especially in the latter half, there’s something magical about having a work take place outside. As I looked up, part of me realized that I was sharing the same sky with these fictional characters — which made them a tad bit more real to me. It’s a moment of magic that’s often lost in a traditional space. By witnessing theater, we’re transporting ourselves to another time to gaze behind the curtain on the intimacies of others lives.
And sometimes it takes visiting a horse stable to realize just how fun transporting yourself can be.
Hole in the Sky runs thorugh September 23rd at Courtship Ranch, 11270 Dominica Ave, Lake View Terrace, CA 91342. Tickets range from $50.00 — $55.00.
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