Cloud 9: Act I: 1880, Plantation in Africa. The height of British imperialism. Act II: 1980, London. While taking place 100 years later, three continuing characters age a mere 25 years. While technology has taken quantum leaps, human social progress has barely moved. Confused yet?
In Act I, mother Betty is delightfully played by Adam Edwards, and in Act II forcefully played by DeAnna Driscoll. In Act I Betty's son Edward is aggressively played by Lisel M. Gorell and in ACT II by a cowering David Radford. Finally, in Act I, Betty's daughter Victoria is played by a very large rag doll and in Act II charmingly played by Lisel M Gorell. Confused yet?
Caryl Churchill's Cloud 9 explores heterosexuality, lesbianism and homosexuality, as well as extramarital liaisons. The play projects these variations on a theme against the backdrop of the period with rapid-fire humor and occasional incisiveness. Cross-gender casting adds a further dimension to this intricate puzzle of a play.
Act I's opening, complete with pre-show native drums, includes a full-cast poetry session, not only setting the scene but establishing character.
Family patriarch Clive (the thoroughly convincing David Radford) epitomizes the arrogant British occupier-of-native-lands. Adam Edward's wife Betty delights, while the family's native retainer, Joshua (a dialect-perfect Jeremy Shepard), seems to be omnipresent. Lisel M. Gorell's son Joshua is a strapping, active lad. Alas, the lad prefers dolls to guns, and he really likes family friend, Harry Bagley. Manuel J. Fernandes is Harry Bagley, a stiff-upper-lip adventurer of the empire who gets involved with male and female with little discretion. DeAnna Driscoll is nanny Ellen and neighbor Mrs. Saunders, both of whom have dalliances. Finally, Jessa Watson is Maud, Betty's perennially- visiting mother, a Victorian dowager who tries to dominate.
So much for Act I. Act II has roll switching and some new characters. Notable is Gorell's portrayal of adult Victoria. Adam Edward's punker Gerry, a London tough, is very strong, as is the entire cast here. David Weiner's set, aided by Manuel Ricardo Garcia Sanchez, is crisp, opening up the relatively small stage for the cast. Kevin Logue's scenic artistry gives the players a pleasant, non-distracting background. During intermission the house veranda turns into a grass-covered park, complete with an under-ground sandbox. Jennifer Setlow's lighting, while principally white, offers very nice variations. Shulamit Nelson provides both period and contemporary costumes, which complement the production.
Cloud 9 is delightful fun, though definitely "adult" fare, as it plays with sexuality, as well as with gender, and allows us to see society through a different perspective.
