Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Heather Christian’s ANIMAL WISDOM rousingly reflects on death, through song

• By drediman
• November 3, 2017
• No Comments

Heather Christian in “Animal Wisdom” at the Bushwick Starr.

Last night, I ventured out to Bushwick to catch a performance of Heather Christian’s rousing Animal Wisdom, a self-proclaimed “requiem mass”, or Catholic mass for the dead. But the show currently playing at the Bushwick Starr, a co-production with the West Yorkshire Playhouse, is really much more than that; it’s also a rock concert, an autobiographical solo show, and, ahem, a séance (of the southern gothic variety).

The multi-talented Ms. Christian, the show’s creator and star, is an exceptionally gifted songwriter and musician. Her songs, which she developed in collaboration with her band mates (Sasha Brown, Fred Epstein, Eric Farber, and Maya Sharpe) are lovingly and skillfully crafted. They are also expertly performed with verve and energy, and are particularly soul-stirring in such intimate quarters.

Where the show somewhat stumbles is when it’s not in song. Ms. Christian’s book occasionally veers into what I like to call “precious” mode. By this, I mean whenever the show blurs the line between fact and flights of fancy. These stretches of dialogue strike me as a little twee. Luckily, Ms. Christian has the personality and presence to charm herself through them.

These are small quibbles, however. Animal Wisdom is one of the most intriguing pieces of music theater I’ve encountered recently. Indeed, I would expect nothing less given the pedigree of its directors, Mark Rosenblatt and Andrew Schneider (the show has a few theatrical coups which I won’t reveal here). Mr. Schneider, in particular, is a visionary theater-maker. And when the show bursts into song, as performed by the magnetic Ms. Christian and her charismatic band, it’s unstoppable.

RECOMMENDED

ANIMAL WISDOM
Off-Broadway, Musical
The Bushwick Starr (a co-production with West Yorkshire Playhouse)
2 hours (without an intermission)
Through December 9