What happens to art and pop culture in a post-apocalyptic world? The National University Theatre Society (NUTS) explores what we turn to when there is nothing else in Mr Burns: A Post-Electric Play, at Kambri Drama Theatre, ANU on 27-30 September.
In the not-so-distant future, the world has been stripped of electricity, leading to the collapse of civilization. In the aftermath, we meet the survivors left with nothing – certainly no technology to keep them entertained. Harking back to the entertainment of bygone days, someone starts to act out a story they can all recognise – an episode of The Simpsons.
Written by Anne Washburn, the play studies the power of art and storytelling while asking questions about why some stories stick with us and the role of art in society. Turning to the arts and pop culture in times of duress is nothing new; throughout the recent pandemic, streaming services, book sales and online entertainment boomed.
“They’ve got nothing else to do, they’ve been forced to slow down and to stop. So, what do we turn to? Things that can entertain us, things that can bring that joy, that sense of passion back into our lives,” says Lachlan Houen, co-director.
Told in three acts, the play showcases different styles and genres of theatre, echoing the idea that art really does shape the lives we lead. Mr Houen says that the role of artists in society is often underestimated, especially now when their future is being questioned more than ever.
“We can live without art, this is true, but I think that life that we live becomes a whole lot more bland when we do,” he says.
In act two, jump forward seven years and theatre troupes are moving across America to perform episodes of The Simpsons, including the commercials that would have been screened. Mr Houen says this is the new Netflix and almost a currency in the new world, asking audiences to contribute lines to the episodes and commercials.
Act three is set a further 75 years in the future and shows what the power of storytelling and Chinese whispers can do; no spoilers here.
During his research on the piece, Mr Houen discovered that the playwright toyed with different shows like Friends or Get Smart before deciding the yellow folk of Springfield were the ideal characters to tell the story. Being a cultural phenomenon, The Simpsons transcends generational divides; even if you haven’t watched it, you know what it is, Mr Houen suggests.
“What Anne Washburn did for the first act … she got all these actors and put them into this vault underneath Wall Street and just asked them to recount an episode of The Simpsons,” he says. “So a lot of the words that come from act one are verbatim from those actors remembering those stories.”
One of the things audiences love about the cartoon series is its constant cultural references which help to keep events and people in our collective memory. Just the episode we see recounted in the first act, Cape Feare, is based on Cape Fear (aka The Executioners), a book that also inspired two films. For the survivors, the recounting of the episode becomes a communal moment in which they connect. He says that’s a universal experience when we share our favourite art forms with new acquaintances and friends.
“It’s a huge moment of connection because it allows people to bridge any gaps that they have, it’s an easy talking point.”
While the NUTS productions usually cater to a student audience, the co-director says this production focuses on universal themes and it something everyone in the community can enjoy. Hoping audiences leave with an appreciation for the art of storytelling, Mr Houen says that is the essence of what they are trying to capture.
“I would love people to be able to walk away going ‘that was a piece of artwork I just consumed and enjoyed, I’m going to go home and consume something else, and really enjoy that actively and understand that it really does add to a sense of richness in my life’,” he says.
Explore the power of art in Mr Burns: A Post-Electric Play at Kambri Drama Theatre, ANU, 27-30 September; facebook.com/anugoesnuts
Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
