A crashing environment, a crushing daughter-father relationship and a deep longing for connection are all part of what make up Invisible Theatre’s season opener, Anna Ouyang Moench's “Birds of North America.”
John (Dennis O’Dell) is a scientist crazed with finding solutions to the dying environment and threatening diseases. He is single-minded, misses the tact gene and has no patience for those who think differently. His daughter Caitlyn (Hannah Turner) does think differently — she is an editor for a right-wing newspaper. It’s a job, she says with a shrug. It infuriates him. She and dad have nothing in common, but she still wants to reach in and find something that will foster a relationship. That something is birding.
Her father spends much of his time with his binoculars and a bird journal in his backyard. She decides that maybe that is the way to his heart and picks up binoculars and joins him.
Ah, if only it were that simple. We follow them for two decades as they meet in the backyard, try to eye birds, and attempt to dig down with each other. He is way too didactic and irascible; she too emotionally frail and defensive.
While the actors are both accomplished, this play is missing something. Maybe another character — perhaps his wife, who is often mentioned but never seen — would soften the drudgery of the bickering and unkindnesses that follow the father and daughter.
Grethen Wirges directs with a solid hand, but the rhythm was off on opening night. And the pace was so quick that the actors weren’t able to create nuanced characters.
Perhaps a few more performances under its belt will help it blossom more. And perhaps a little more refinement in the script would help, as well.
“Birds of North America” continues through Sunday, Sept. 15, at Invisible Theatre, 1400 N. First Ave. Tickets are $42 at invisibletheatre.com or 520-882-9721. Run time is 90 minutes with no intermission.
The Scott's oriole like this one filmed near Vail is one of several birds that might be renamed. More of Jason Miller's wildlife videos can be found at Jason Miller Outdoors on YouTube.
