Simplistically set, Why Worry About Their Futures begins with all our characters on stage and plunges into various themes surrounding loss, queerness, social structures, finding light in grief and forms of impending doom.
Why Worry About Their Futures at undercurrents 2023. Photo: Andrew Alexander.
We open with a stunning musical introduction that becomes the clear marker of the scene changes: a dissonant cello piece and a (remarkably impressive) balloon player—all of which heighten the intensity of the consumed content. The transitions were clever and frantic, but in a thoughtful way that elevated the various pieces of the show.
A fascinating curation of three short plays, we hop from present to past to future, exploring three vastly different scenes and sets of characters facing challenges about doing The Job—be it themselves or close people in their life. With recurring dialogue about queerness and the climate rapidly changing, we are shown events that have been considered regular to some degree but are heightened by context: a high-stakes delivery, a poet speaking in a park, bringing life into a world that is quite possibly ending. The simple set of yellow balloons and a single chair are the only things that remain onstage throughout the show, and I really enjoyed the lighting design and the musical punctuation of the scenes.
Why Worry About Their Futures at undercurrents 2023. Photo: Andrew Alexander.
This show dives into many incredibly significant themes, and I enjoyed its presentation. There were times that felt mildly clumsy, both technically and on stage, and I would be very excited to revisit this show in the future should they bring it to the stage again.
Why Worry About Their Futures by Keith Barker, Lawrence Aronovitch, and Sanita Fejzić runs February 8 to 12. Tickets are pay-what-you-can, ranging from $5 to $75. For more information and to purchase tickets, see the undercurrents schedule here.
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