If college taught me anything, it taught me how to properly source accurate information. “For the most part,” my professors would say, “if you can find scholarly, peer reviewed research studies, you can rest assured that the information in them will be accurate.” Now – I’m not so sure.
A research study destined for peer review is central to the conflict in Madhuri Shekar’s “Queen,” at Palo Alto’s Lucie Stern Theatre, produced by TheatreWorks, Silicon Valley. Two PhD candidates are researching the cause of Colony Collapse Disorder in bees, and they have Monsanto directly in their sights when the numbers from their final study period just don’t seem to add up the way they’re expected. Of course, their professor and the researcher of record for the study is scheduled to present the paper shortly, a leading scientific journal is eager to publish the findings, and the PhD candidates are under the gun to make their numbers work…at any cost. And if that weren’t enough, s semi-arranged marriage is thrown into the mix. It gets complicated, but it’s also all a bit too familiar in formulation.
Kjerstine Rose Anderson is good as researcher Ariel Spiegel. Uma Paranjpe is good, if a bit stilted, as mathematician Sanam Srinivasan, Ariel’s research associate. Devin Kolluri is a bit static as Wall Street douchebag Arvind Rangarajan, and Mike Ryan is a too shouty for my liking as Dr. Philip Hayes.
Director Miriam A. Laube has staged the piece effectively, but I think the piece flounders emotionally. The script’s touchpoints seem formulaic, the twists (if you can call them that) even more so, and the male characters seem terribly one note. More could be done directorially and in performance to give the characters–especially the men–greater depth of character. The ladies fare better, but at times seem to make speeches at each other, rather than have a conversation. Nina Ball’s sets work well, and lighting by designer Kent Dorsey is lovely, as is James Ard’s sound design.
I usually really enjoy the productions at TheatreWorks, Silicon Valley, but this was my least favorite. It wasn’t a horrible night out at the theatre, but I did find myself looking at my watch a couple of times–which, for me, is never a good sign.
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Rating: ** (For an explanation of Theatrestorm’s rating scale, click here.)
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“Queen” Written by Madhuri Shekar. Produced by Theatreworks Silicon Valley in collaboration with EnActe Arts. Director: Miriam A. Laube. Scenic Design: Nina Ball. Costume Design: Lisa Clayburgh. Lighting Design: Kent Dorsey. Sound Design: James Ard.
Cast: Ariel Spiegel: Kjerstine Rose Anderson. Sanam Srinivasan. Dr. Phillip Hayes: Mike Ryan. Arvind Rangarajan: Deven Kolluri.
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