” We’re Gonna Die” story by Julia W. Rath

Life and death meet at the periphery of consciousness in the experimental film “We’re Gonna Die.” As with other shows being produced during the COVID pandemic, Theatre Y has turned to producing a video on Vimeo. Their re-envisioning of the book by Korean-American playwright Young Jean Lee takes us to a place that is uncomfortable but inevitable. In short, we are born to die, and life hasn’t been the proverbial walk in the park. The show is especially timely, since it brings to consciousness dark thoughts about disease, decay, and dying. It is also a story about life’s disappointments, where our expectations have either been crushed or left unfulfilled.

The show is meant to be a reality check and not a horror film. But film is what it is: a two-dimensional medium which, in this instance, fleshes out a multidimensional conception of the world, due to the creative vision of director Héctor Álvarez. He has put together an exceedingly poignant montage using odd, unusual, and strangely eerie visuals when he adapted Lee’s script for film. The incredible result is that the director has provided the vehicle for us to imperfectly interpenetrate two worlds: the one in our heads and the one that serves as our grounds for everyday reality. Add to this the portrayal of the mismatch between our conscious and subconscious mind, and voilá, illusions, delusions, impressions, fears, and worries give weight to our real-life experiences. Kudos to cinematographer Justin Jones and editor Kevin Hurley for their furtherance of Álvarez’s highly original initiative.

Composer, musical arranger, and stop-motion animator Kyle Gregory Price has orchestrated the contemporary chamber music ensemble that backs Emily Bragg, who acts as both the main character in the film and our host for the evening. Not only does she introduce the Vimeo presentation via Zoom, but she is its only performer—and she does a phenomenal job! In addition to narrating the female character’s autobiography, she entertains us with such songs as “Lullaby for the Miserable” and “Horrible Things”, sung sweetly and charmingly, though the lyrics are not meant to be uplifting.

By listening to the main character’s morose reflections on her life, we learn a lot about her inner experience—and, more importantly, about our own darkness. Through her example, we witness that there are all sorts of catastrophes that can happen throughout our life span. The details differ from person to person, but nobody is unaffected; such is the nature of the human condition. The reason for a child’s upset may be different from that of an adult, but that is not to say that all of us do not at some time become discouraged or depressed, and this especially occurs when losing a loved one–painfully. The film indirectly makes the point that we are all miserable in our own way and that we are much too caught up in our judgments about everything. Most of us muddle through life and to try to cheer ourselves up; though perhaps, like the narrator’s uncle, some of us prefer to wallow in our misery or become despondent.

This is not a story where you can sit back and watch but instead you’ll find yourself going inside and exploring yourself or perhaps meditating on your place in the Universe. Thus the film is vaguely reminiscent of the Buddhist idea that life is suffering, and there’s no good way of escaping it, with the exception of transcending desires and developing non-attachment, so we can be truly happy and at peace with ourselves.

“We’re Gonna Die” is playing Thru October 25th

Tickets are free and available through Theatre Y’s website: https://www.theatre-y.ticketleap.com/were-gonna-die-by-young-jean-lee/

For more information, contact info@theatre-y.com or call 773-908-2248.

Note that the pre-show introduction and the post-show discussion are both on Zoom. After you have received your ticket via email, you will receive a link to Zoom shortly before the performance. Once you are on Zoom, you will receive the link to Vimeo to watch the film.

Theatre Y takes part in the Free Theatre Movement and is able to offer their work free of charge thanks to the support of their members/donors. You can become a member and start supporting the Free Theatre Movement with an automated monthly donation in an amount of your choosing or by making a one-time donation. For more information about donating to Theatre Y to support their mission of sharing unique theatrical experiences to all, please visit https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E343532&id=4.

Note that there are no stars assigned to this review, because “We’re Gonna Die” is not “legitimate theatre.” Rather, this film is the work of a theatre company creatively adjusting itself to society’s “new normal”: keeping social distance while remaining socially engaged.