Review: Curious SEULS Makes US Premiere at Kennedy Center

As the first offering in the Kennedy Center's 2015-2016 season World Stages Festival, Wajdi Mouawad's SEULS is memorable for a few reasons. Written, directed, and performed by Mr. Mouawad himself, the event is a pure example of a theatrical artist giving his all to make a performance happen. At a lengthy two hours without an intermission, Mouwad puts himself through the physical and emotional ringer as he attempts to shed light on an immigrant graduate student's personal search for self-identity and knowledge. His physical and emotional stamina is something of a wonder and one also has to certainly admire the technical creativity at play by his collaborators, especially Emmanuel Clolus for set design, Éric Champoux for lighting design, and Dominique Daviet for video design. All of these elements are, like the twists and turns in the script, unexpected.

However, while it's never a particularly good idea for anyone (whether a reviewer or not) to come into a production with preconceived expectations based on a promotional show description, I do have to say that what I witnessed could have made a more powerful connection with the audience if the creator had gone with a "less is more" approach to telling his no doubt interesting - and probably relatable - story. To be sure, the effect of his childhood move from Lebanon to Canada to escape the civil war, and a related complicated relationship with his father, does receive some focus - particularly as we enter some of the more curious scenes that take place in the latter half of the performance (I am being intentionally vague here because it would not do the curiosity justice if I fully described it). Although that event/relationship is by far the most interesting aspect of Mouwad's story (for me at least), I did feel the writer/performer got tangled up in the idea of exploring their impacts in the most abstract and sensationalized way possible in order to theatricalize his story to the greatest extent possible rather than just simply sharing it.

At least fundamentally, given his character is a graduate student in sociology writing a doctoral thesis on Robert Lepage, it does make sense why Mouwad chose this method of storytelling. However, as executed, his piece - which is more performance art than traditional theatre - comes off as pretentious, full of gimmicks, and does not allow for virtually any opportunities for the audience to become concerned with his plight. This is unfortunate in a solo show and the situation worsens as the show progresses. I personally became more detached from what was happening onstage as the performance went on and not because the surtitles disappeared for a bit of time (the performance is in French).

Although an artistic collaborator (François Ismert) is mentioned in the program, it's not clear the extent to which he was involved in creating the performance piece. Employing another director, rather than self-directing the show with an assistant, might have had a positive impact on how the performance plays to an audience - particularly an American one. Although Mouwad is an incredibly engaging and gifted, natural performer, no one man can do it all.

All in all, kudos to the Kennedy Center for bringing something different to the theatergoing public in our area. I only wish that next time it's a stronger piece that's more likely to resonate with audiences. However, fear not....there are plenty more offerings in this year's World Stages Festival.

Running Time: Two hours with no intermission.

SEULS played the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts for two performances on September 18 and 19, 2015. For information on upcoming offerings in the World Stages Festival, see the Kennedy Center website.

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