Profane yet profound, amusing yet heart-wrenching, ignorant yet oddly wise and dedicated; the people of Junk City are six generations into a post-global-warming world in which most everyone has departed, and those left behind have devolved to function.
We’ve already met playwright Liz Duffy Adams, thanks to Moxie Theatre, which produces her latest work, “The Listener,” currently in a too-brief run at San Diego Repertory Theatre.
Smak and Jelly (Tim Parker and Rachael Van Wormer) scavenge the city-size garbage dump for usable treasure, particularly previously undiscovered things, which they take to Namer (Walter Murray) for identification and possible use. Funny? You bet.
Namer is a demagogue whose shack is decorated with CDs and who thinks he has a direct line to Sam, the unseen god.
In another part of the dump, using a generations-old transmitter, the community vestal virgin, Listener (Jo Anne Glover), broadcasts frequent appeals to anyone who might be out there. She is beautiful, primitive and dedicated, even though no one answers.
Along comes a stranger, who changes everything. A visitor from Nearth (New Earth, the place to which humans traveled when earth’s resources were depleted), John (Steven Lone) goes where no man has gone before in an attempt to “rescue” and enlighten the lost civilization and its people.
That’s the set-up, redolent of Adams’ other post-apocalyptic civilization in the award-winning “Dog Act,” produced by Moxie at Diversionary Theatre. Apparently, the residents of Junk City are alone, though no less potentially violent, and human as they are. Like the tribes of “Dog Act” they speak their own degenerate yet distinct language. There are several profoundly moving speeches; these, along with the poetry of thought, make for a marvelous, unusual evening in the theatre.
Mounted by Moxie Theatre artistic director and co-founder Delicia Turner Sonnenberg, the production elements of this new play could not be better. As they must be in such a fragile piece, the actors are fully engaged, serious and sincere. Lone, recently so impressive in Ion Theatre’s “La Gaviota,” makes an impressive Moxie Theatre debut as John. Van Wormer, who also debuts with the company, is familiar for her work at numerous local theaters. Sonnenberg elicits a performance that ranks among Van Wormer’s most charming tomboy roles.
The world of Junk City ” created by scenic designer Amy Chini, lighting designer Eric Lotze, sound designer Tom Jones and costume designers Jennifer Eve Thorn and Sheri Kraus ” is endlessly fascinating and has its own eerie beauty. Thank Sam for Al Gore and Liz Duffy Adams.
“The Listener” continues though June 29 only (8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 p.m. Sunday) at the Lyceum Theatre Space, San Diego Repertory Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza. For tickets and information, visit www.moxietheatre.com or call (619) 544-1000.
