On a hot-air balloon ride during quarantine, lines, borders, relationships, memories, and realities blur the further from solid ground this contraption floats. For Kat, a grad student who has been shackled by the quarantine, this journey into the clouds helps her discover solid footing. Her boyfriend Marco is an insufferable business “bro” — money, appearances, and gifts are all that matter. Billy, the balloonist, is a dreamer, a wizard with words, who leads this couple on a pandemic escape above the clouds and into past and maybe future lives.
Playwright Wayne Firestone’s Higher tackles multiple levels of complexity from interracial relationships to immigrant longings, parental relationships cut short, and finding one’s true voice amid capitalist expectations. Director Connor Lugo-Harris tries mightily to keep these complex past, present, and dream-filled spaces connected, but it is easy to get lost on this journey. Cast includes Sarah Amoyah, Brock Brown, Alex Carnot, Colum Goebelbecker, Kyle Kankonde, and Reginald Richards.
See it if a rough draft that will likely evolve in the next iteration interests you.
Running Time: 70 minutes with no intermission.
Higher plays five times from July 14 to 24, 2022, at W. WASHINGTON – Formerly Forever 21 Georgetown, 3222 M Street NW, Washington, DC. For the performance schedule and tickets ($15), go online.
COVID Safety: The audience is to remain masked for the show. The mask needs to cover your mouth and nose the whole time. Proof of vaccination and ID are checked before entry.
Genre: Drama
Age appropriateness: Appropriate for All Ages
