Theatre that forces us to address life’s challenges can sometimes be the most rewarding. For “Redwood” at La Jolla Playhouse, the story takes us along a woman’s journey to face insurmountable grief. The story directly addresses the loss of a loved one, to the point where the actors sing, “Everybody dies.” It might be counterintuitive to spend an evening with so much time in this painful world, but the catharsis that comes from her journey is the ultimate reward.
The story follows Jesse (Idina Menzel), an overworked and sleep-deprived woman who deals with her pain by refusing to deal with it at all. Her wife Mel (De’Adre Aziza) wants to remember the good times and work through the pain, but Jesse simply refuses. She reaches her breaking point and follows a road to anywhere and nowhere. Eventually, Jesse ends up in the redwoods of Eureka, CA and finds a quiet place where she can avoid the things weighing on her. The healing power of nature takes Jesse by surprise and leads her to a place she has avoided for so long.
With a two-hour run time and no intermission, the story feels just a bit too short. There is very little time or dialogue to establish Jesse and Mel’s home life, and the source of their grief is not disclosed until much later. Because of this, Jesse’s sudden decision to up and leave everything in her life lacks any power or “oomph.” It’s as if the show is asking, “You know what it would be like to leave everything behind, right? Just imagine that,” instead of actually establishing a situation where we feel the weight of the character’s decision.
Once Jesse reaches the redwoods, the audience is treated to a visual spectacular of sprawling green projections across large screens. The scenic design by Jason Ardizzone-West is as minimalist as you can get at the top of the show: nothing but white. However, the media design and projection work by Hana S. Kim builds an entire forest against those screens that envelop the entire room. Although the screens are simple, Ardizzone-West has created a life-size redwood for the actors to climb up physically—harnesses, helmets and all. With the larger-than-life screens and redwood, there’s no denying that the show is a unique feast for the eyes.
The actors are spectacular, with Menzel carrying the show the only way a Broadway veteran can. The cast is small, but the characters of Finn (Michael Park) and Becca (Nkeki Obi-Melekwe), two nature scientists whom Jesse encounters in the forest, drive so much of the plot and help Jesse find her way. The trio of Jesse, Finn and Becca have great chemistry, and you see a friendship grow between these characters.
Unfortunately, the weakest aspect of the show comes from the music by Kate Diaz. Although beautiful and fitting for the setting, the music all sounds exactly the same, with very little deviation between songs. Everything starts to blend together about halfway through the show, and suddenly, it feels like you’re starting to hear the same songs repeatedly. Only about 25% of the lyrics rhyme, which leaves the songs feeling anything but catchy. Not every musical has to have a catchy hook to accompany the story, but after the show, none of the music made a lasting impression.
While “Redwood” has its ups and downs, the show ultimately holds its own and delivers a powerful story of love and loss. The musical is brilliantly produced by the Playhouse, treating audiences to a truly unique, one-of-a-kind show that stands out among musicals today. It isn’t an adaptation of a movie or a revival of a classic show; “Redwood” is entirely new and fresh, and will hopefully continue on for many to enjoy.
(Photo Credit: Rich Soublet)
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