There’s a climate emergency. It seems like the human race, some of them, have woken up to this. It really shouldn’t be news though, as scientists made the causal link between fossil fuels and climate change around half a century ago.
Pepperdine Scotland’s production is prescient and well-staged
Planet Earth has been around, give or take, for 4.5 billion years. It seems to have taken us a couple of hundred to set it on the path to destruction.
There is more jeopardy for young people, and in this new play a group of them have a birthday party atop a mountain, marvelling at nature, but, like Joni Mitchell in Big Yellow Taxi, are troubled by mankind’s actions.
Wildfires are a naturally occurring phenomenon and one such envelopes the group. Most – but not all – of them manage to escape of their own volition, no rescue party in sight.
They are increasingly frustrated at government inaction on climate change. They participate in peaceful protest, but it appears futile, business interests having the ear of politicians. Lilly, mentally scarred from the fire, embarks upon non-violent direct action. She of course runs the obvious risk of arrest and prosecution, but many movements would never have succeeded without a campaign of civil disobedience. Ask Rosa Parks.
This piece examines how far individuals are prepared to go for what they believe in, despite personal risk. Many people around the planet realise that no one is coming to save us ; if we are to avoid climate disaster, it can only come through attitudinal and political change.
Pepperdine Scotland’s production is prescient, well-staged and has performers who will obviously be seen again as their careers progress. The script could use a trim, but it’s well crafted.
There is a throughline of hope, however. And that is what may yet save us.
