At a glance
Performers in a ragtag carnival travel through a wasteland that was once the United States in “Kitezh,” a futuristic drama set generations after an apocalypse.
MadLab Theatre is presenting the world premiere of Jennifer Feather Youngblood’s play, which continues through Dec. 16 Downtown.
“It’s a post-apocalyptic fairy tale and a morality tale, infused with some spectacle and a lot of metaphor,” said Feather Youngblood, a Columbus resident.
“When I thought about the end of the world, I thought about what humanity would still need — food, shelter, but also our stories. We require distractions or survival would drive us mad.”
Feather Youngblood, who has written three full-length plays and 19 one-acts that have been staged across the country and in Canada, was inspired to write “Kitezh” after reading a book on lost cities around the world — including a 13th-century Russian city called Kitezh.
“I had a nightmare one night about a wasteland that stuck with me. ... My nightmare, with its feeling of hopelessness and fear of the unknown, gelled with the lost cities,” Feather Youngblood said.
“The idea was not to mirror the legend of Kitezh itself but to use it as a way to show how humanity uses stories. The stories we tell ourselves and our children are how we define ourselves.”
In the two-act play, the carnival troupe takes in an abandoned Boy (Dallas Ray) and Raj (Stephen Woosley), the carnival ringmaster, tells him the legend of Kitezh.
“In the middle of a bleak, hopeless landscape, the child is told a story about a miraculous city under siege from the Mongol army, and how God reached out and saved the great city with a giant lake that appeared out of nowhere and turned Kitezh into the Russian version of Atlantis,” Feather Youngblood said.
“The legend suggests we want to have hope for the future.”
Director Amy Drake views such post-apocalyptic plays, which are popular today, as a chance for playwrights and theatergoers to work through contemporary anxieties, fears and issues from a distance.
“People are questioning the basic rules of civilization. What do we really believe in? What do we need to do to survive?” Drake said.
“The play culminates with a message of hope, of good overcoming evil, even after a catastrophe.”
Among the carnival members are Maestra (Colleen Dunne), the leader guided by a mysterious figure who appears only in her dreams; Blue (Travis Horseman), a juggler and tumbler; July (Kate Jones), a fortune teller; Lily (Anita McFarren), a dancer, acrobat and singer; and Walter (Matt Schlichting), a magician and storyteller.
“Civilization has broken down, with scattered communities left after some catastrophic event. The carnival goes from city to city doing magic tricks, acrobatics, circus acts, Tarot readings, balancing acts and dancing for mostly poor audiences,” Drake said.
“They have families they’ve left, families they’re estranged from, but they’ve come together under these very desperate circumstances and formed a bond of trust,” she said.
Jones plays several roles — most notably July, a Tarotcard reader and keeper of stories.
“Vivacious, energetic and caring, July is the nurturing one in the carnival group, making sure everyone is OK,” Jones said.
“But they’re all strong women, unafraid to defend themselves and others.”
Jones was attracted to the play partly because of its resonant themes.
“The play explores the role of religion and power in people’s lives,” Jones said.
“‘Kitezh’ shows how religious structures shape society and can be used as a tool for power, and how religious beliefs can be used to motivate people, in both good and bad ways.”
“Kitezh” MadLab Theatre 227 N. 3rd St. 614-221-5418, www.madlab.net 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 16 $18, or $15 for students and senior citizens, $13 for members