Hibernation

Performed by WAAPA’s Second Year Acting Students, with support from WAAPA’s Production and Design Students, Hibernation is set in 2040, in a rapidly dying world. A policy has been developed (based on research for Space Travel) to get all humans on earth to hibernate for a year, to allow the planet to rejuvenate and recover.

Cleverly set with a design by Arianna Alessandro, thoughtful lighting design by Joe Hoedemaker and beautiful organic sound design from Connor Futter, incorporating composition by Emma Jayakumar and live cello and underscoring by Shanna Shang, helps us to move location throughout the world.

Act One is set prior to the Hibernation, as we see a policy created by the clever Emily Metcalfe (intelligently and strongly played by Armaghan Farr) stolen by smooth talking conservative politician Warwick Grant (a slick and believable Griffin Mclaughlin). Emily is fired to cover up the decision by advisor Damian Accuardi (maturely played by Zack Rock).

Also in Act One we see Emily on an awkward date with blogger Mark Obrecht (a strident Tom Kelly), and various families prepare for the hibernation, including Indian woman Aarna Prasad (a softly spoken but powerful Monika Singh) and her Scottish husband James (a gentle Daniel Halmarick) and Shanghai based Sang (a compelling Daniel Chen) with daughter Jeong (a bright and believable Holly Samaneigo). We also meet Bogota based nursing home resident Cassandra Flores (Andrea Fernandez playing the elderly woman well), her son Ernesto (a very likable CJ Ransome) and his loving policeman husband Luis (Casey Stevenson in a beautiful portrayal).

Act Two is markedly different and set in the last weeks of the hibernation as we follow Pete (Michael Kavanagh) and Maggie (Sarah Hindle), whose artificial lungs have prevented them from succumbing to the anesthetic gas that has everyone else in hibernation. Gorgeous performances from these actors as these characters reveal their antics during their time alone and fall in love. Compelling acting.

After interval we learn about the aftermath of the hibernation, as Emily campaigns for a repeat of the process each decade, Pete and Maggie create a new life and other characters deal with loss. We see more of actors Nicholas Rose and Katie Cameron, sliding nicely intro multiple roles, and see Holly Samaniego in a new role.

This is an impressive acting cohort, and the play is beautifully directed and designed and efficiently crewed. A fascinating play that was conceived before 2020 and has been adapted since. Providing much food for thought, this is well worth seeing.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Stephen Heath