'Out of the Blue' succeeds with blend of spectacular, banal

Out of the Blue, presented by Archipelago Theatre, is not easy to sum up. But it shouldn’t be.

Presented as a montage of seemingly disparate scenes, writer-director and theater studies assistant professor Ellen Hemphill’s play positions itself around the central theme of chance and the tension that arises “out of the blue.” The play offers a fresh focus on a theme that far too often gives way to melodrama or frivolity. The scenarios stand on their own but also avoid the common pitfall of discontinuity which often accompanies productions of such a vignette-based structure.

From the mundane to the magnificent, some scenes feel more familiar than others, but they are all poignantly portrayed. A distressed couple’s struggle to conceive contrasts with a man’s frustrating journey on an automated customer service phone line. Yet somehow they both convey a similar battle toward a hopeless endeavor where free will seems to make no difference. 

Out of the Blue’s visual and musical imagery enhances the play’s effect. Hemphill skillfully interjects video and sound clips into scenes to further highlight nuanced aspects of certain dreamscapes. A five-piece instrumental ensemble sets the mood, mediating the internal and external dialogue of the various scenes.

One of the most interesting—and entertaining—elements of the play was a constant cast of crows which actors took turns playing. Like the elephant in the room, they lurk in the shadows invisible to the characters, but highlight obvious truths that often go unseen in daily life. Besides offering comic relief between sets, the crows come to life in unexpected movements as bearers of words and songs of wisdom. When needed, they push the narrative forward. 

A strength of Out of the Blue lies in the well-defined personalities brought to life on stage. The actors played their various roles convincingly, helping to bring out the endearing quirks of each character. Viewers will begin to realize that even through the mundane, the magnificent can still be found.

Out of the Blue runs from today to Feb. 21 and Feb. 25 to 28 in Sheafer Theater. General admission tickets are $15 and $5 for Duke and UNC students. The show begins at 8 p.m. except for Feb. 21 and 28 when it plays at 2 p.m.