The Fears

       By Joseph Cervelli

I don't find the need to mention the producer of shows I have reviewed but in the case of Emma Sheanshang's askew new play "The Fears," I feel I should. The superb director Steven Soderbergh ("Sex, Lies, Videotape", "Erin Brockovich," and "Traffic" among others) is listed as the producer of this play at The Pershing Square Signature Center. I doubt if he had taken over the reins of director instead of Dan Algrant it would have made much difference. It seems like the playwright is unsure what she is aiming for. 

I do have to say I was perplexed by the loud audience laughter during the early scenes. Try as I might I did not find anything that was funny--maybe, mildly amusing but that is saying a lot. Actually, the funniest part happens offstage with the foul mouthed people on the street and the jack-hammering drowning out the members' meditation. 

Not knowing much about Buddhism I heard a lot of terms which never were fully explained yet the real issue is that it was difficult to believe that those attending the meeting at a Buddhist Center in New York would act like this array of people. Meditation is one of the main ingredients in that religion yet the cast of characters seem to need more help than that. Some were definitely in need of therapy which the leader of the group Maia (Maddy Corman) could not possibly supply. 

Except for newcomer Thea (Kerry Bishe) all the other five attendees have been here a number of times. And Thea is completely confused what is being offered since she never received the email explaining things to her. 

Rosa (Natalie Woolams-Torres) has a great deal of emotional issues including leaving her young son alone who ends up in the hospital. During one of her panic attacks she states that she is "130" whatever that is referring to.  

Fiz (Mehran Khaghani) a gay man has some very humorous moments in describing his sister whom he despises and cannot understand why she has invited him to her wedding. It is a given that some of his dialogue is funny but after a while you feel for what he has been through. 

Katie (Jess Gabor)  is Goth who has more problems than anyone in this group could possibly help her with. She is a member of the cult COD (Children of Death.) 

Mark (Carl Hendrick Louis) has a relationship going with one of the other members that should have been revealed to the Maia because apparently that is a no-no along with no phones, not saying  your sorry and no asking questions of when someone is speaking. Needless to say, he has his own emotional issues involving his mother. 

Suzanne (Robyn Peterson) is an angry middle aged woman who was raped by her priest. She mellows for some moments but is filled with a great deal of anger, especially towards Fiz for reasons not really explained. 

And getting back to Thea you find that her issues were somehow intertwined with the death of her mother dying in the Pan Am 73 flight. Yet, she blames the United States for part of this. And according to her  to her one of the people that caused her emotional dishevel was Alexander the Great. That led into other invaders in history which she is quite adept at. 

Unless you are into Buddhism I am afraid that hearing "Ashland is Leidenkrantz" and "Roykritz is Plum Lotus"will leave you as bewildered as I was. 

Also, not so sure what is funny about "want some Himalayan cashews," but I did not find the humor as some audience members did.  

I would think that Maia's comment about finding forgiveness in those that were harmful by imagining them as a five year old child is based on truth although when anger erupts in one or two of them her suggestion about wanting to plant a tree should have been delved into further. 

And what does not work is the title of the play. Maia suggests that they write down their fears just "not the big one." That would have been a great start to have the play move into a direction where issues could coalesce but it falls flat. The playwright seems to be move interested in writing dialogue than actually have matters come to some semblance of fruition. And the change in Katie seems phony based on what she states made the difference. 

I cannot fault the performances at all. They are the only saving grace to this haphazard play. 

PHOTOS: Daniel Rader

Tickets are available at The Pershing Square Signature Center 480 West 42nd Street.