A Willow Grows Aslant
Created by Kate Jopson, Natalie Khuen, Kristin Idaszak
Choreographed by Lindsey Sheild
La Jolla Playhouse's Without Walls Festival 2013
A Willow Grows Aslant was created for La Jolla Playhouse's Without Walls Festival. The project was sparked from a concept set design by Natalie Khuen of a white labyrinth filled with grass and flowers and mirrors. For me, the set evoked the world of Ophelia. From there, we brought in Kristin Idaszak, a playwright, and the three of us pulled characters directly from Hamlet and placed them in a modern geo-political setting. Told from Ophelia's perspective, Willow takes the audience inside Ophelia's mind as it struggles to make sense of world that is fracturing around her. The piece was immersive and audience members were brought down to the basement in three different groups. One group entered at the beginning, others came in at the middle, and some began the journey at the end of Ophelia's life. After she dies, the play restarts and Ophelia tries again to change her fate.
Designed by Natalie Khuen
Performed by Eva Barnes, Mike Sears, Jorge Rodriguez, Jenny Grober, Tim Barnett, Andres Romacho, Rio Villa, Joey Odom, Miranda Dainard, Jeffrey Chan, Elisa Leveratto, Ruchi Thukral, Michael Robinson, Jenny Moon.