Nevada Conservatory Theatre starts its performances on Sept. 11, with “Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play.” This is the 10th anniversary of “Mr. Burns,” and earlier this year, there was a 10th anniversary benefit reading with the original cast. The play was also named by The New York Times as one of the “25 Best Plays Since ‘Angels in America.’” The cast has been working since the first week of August to bring us this “sinisterly funny dark comedy,” according to the director, Kristen Brandt.
“Mr. Burns” is a play that comments on how theater will continue in a future apocalyptic world. It especially comments on what media we will remember and what will be passed down through generations. The Nevada Conservatory Theatre chose to do “Mr. Burns” instead of a full-blown musical this season due to the play’s third act, but the cast wouldn’t give much away about the third act other than “Greek chorus meets opera.”
However, the main cast did give a brief overview of the play: “Mr. Burns” follows a group that meets after surviving an apocalyptic event. Together, they bond by remembering different “Simpsons” episodes. That’s right; this play is about “The Simpsons,” but more importantly, it’s about the “importance of community and tribalism.”
Actor Andrew Scott Bullard talked highly of the play’s importance in showing how you find common ground when you don’t get to choose who you’re stuck with after a traumatic event. Bullard commented on how today people are too focused on our differences and have created an “us vs. them” mentality. Actor Nick Cose agreed with Bullard that the play shows “unity in what we watch” and how that can create “found families” within a society that focuses on its differences.
According to actress Kate Critchfield, “Mr. Burns” also “highlights the importance of theater,” especially within tragedies. She continued to discuss how over COVID-19, we bonded over TV shows such as “Tiger King,” “Bridgerton” and “Stranger Things.” Brandt agreed with all the actors’ points but wants potential audience members to know that you do not need to have watched “The Simpsons” to understand the show’s message.
To create this masterpiece, they used various methods and techniques. One technique they used is Suzuki. The technique was created by director Tadashi Suzuki at his company theater. The technique focuses on animal and non-animal energy (electricity) that helps create society’s energy. The actors focused on animal energy and grounding themselves. Bullard said that if you watch closely during their performance, you can see the method in action.
Their characterizations were also up, almost entirely, to the actors. “The play gives little background” to the characters, therefore the actors got to shape them into what you will see on stage on Sept. 11-21. Bullard, Critchfield, Cose and Brandt are excited to show you what they have created in their “apocalypse,” “DIY epic theater” and “hope through crisis” show this upcoming week.
To get more information about the upcoming shows, you can see the full-season lineup online at the Nevada Conservatory Theatre website.
