The Position is the third of five world premieres by local playwright William Bivins opening this season (upcoming are Altered Landscape in February at the Bay One-Acts Festival and The Apotheosis of Pig Husbandry in May at SF Playhouse). It ventures into a world ravaged by 80% unemployment and mass social chaos. Sound all too familiar? In PianoFight’s currently-running production at the Off-Market Theatre, it seems all too possible!
The ruling body of The Nation is now called The Concern. Its Human Resources Team (headed by Member Mrs. Radcliffe) has selected six finalists from more than half-a-million job applicants, flown them to a remote compound, and provided them with every luxury and diversion, including golf, paragliding and skeet shooting. (Note: Skeet shooting can be lethal to humans as well as skeets!) What is “The Position” they have applied for? It’s not exactly clear to the applicants, but it represents security and fulfillment on some level to each of them, except for one candidate who applied as a joke and was surprised to be selected.
Upon arrival the six candidates are stripped of their clothing and identities and informed that the laws of The Nation have been suspended. They will be recorded around the clock while they compete for the one job that they believe can give them hope in a hopeless world. The story is occasionally as baffling to the audience as it is to the characters themselves who attempt to deduce the actual goal they are pursuing.
The only rules are (1) assume nothing and (2) do not reveal your real identity. What ensues is the natural process that any group of humans desperate for survival will engage in. Some attempt to form alliances, some lie, some seduce, some threaten, some are optimistic, others pessimistic — but all engage in the game to advance their own “position.” Individually given Greek letters from Beta to Eta (leaving out Alpha for obvious reasons), the group is attended to by a subservient servant Baylian (eerily played by Evan Winchester), whose self-described attribute is that he has no sense of self and will be whatever anyone wants. Isn’t there a circle of Hell in Dante’s Inferno for such characters?!
On a minimal black-and-white set designed by director Christy Crowley, the cast works well as an ensemble. Strong performances are delivered, including the chilling silence of Epsilon (Eric Reid) and the wildest anxiety of renegade Delta (Asher Lyons). True to character, Mrs. Radcliffe (Jessica Cortese) barely flinches in her turquoise armor-like jacket, no matter how sexually she is attended to. And the click-click of her spike heels warns the others of her no-nonsense approach. Each of the actors (including the remaining finalists Kate Jones, Gabrielle Patacsil, Dan Williams and Laura Zimmerman) offer their complete commitment to portraying uniquely-defined characters. At the most climactic moment (remember that skeet shooting gun?) director Crowley demonstrates the strength of her imagination in a slow-motion reaction to a horrific shooting. Theatre is still a step ahead of Hollywood blockbusters’ graphic portrayal of violence.
The haunting sound design by Logan Andrews (and Ms. Crowley) is something to write home about as are Anne Jones’ costumes that use carefully chosen elements to set the tone for this bleak look into a world not so far away from our own. Recommended.
The Position continues (Thursday to Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 7pm) until Feb. 28 at the Off-Market Theaters, 965 Mission Street, San Francisco. Tickets ($20) at door or at pianofight.com.
