I Am Very Far

Philip Furgiuele and Gerald McLerald in Pressgang Theatre’s I Am Very Far.

On a stage surrounded by three large screens, two women and one man move gracefully to the sound of a cello being played in the corner. Not a word is spoken for several minutes, which leaves the audience guessing as to how Pressgang Theatre‘s production of I Am Very Far will be structured, and what story will be told.

The audience does not have to wait long, as Philip Furgiuele enters the scene and begins to describe his own personal loss, and how the world changed completely as a result. In the aftermath of an experience with death, his outlook on every aspect of life was turned upside down. I Am Very Far is a series of vignettes that explore how individuals cope with both loss and change, using dance, music, and various scenarios to demonstrate reactions and emotions.

Furgiuele’s matter-of-fact storytelling is the centerpiece of the production, and is a consistent feature. Both Jennifer Leigh Fraser and Emily Derr, the two dancing women in the opening scene, don suit jackets and explain two different, heartbreaking scenarios: an unborn child with a heart defect needs surgery, and a young woman is grappling with an eating disorder and needs therapy. There is $800,000 available, and they put the question to the audience: whom should they spend the money on?

Following this vignette is a scene which appears more than once in the production, in which all the characters walk amongst each other in a choreographed fashion, piecing together different thoughts and scenarios to the sound of the cello being played. Another scene that appears three times features Michael-David with a keyboard, typing to a woman who is battling cancer, his typing becoming more and more violent over time.

An ambitious collection of different art forms, I Am Very Far forces the audience to face the raw emotions associated with grief. Each performer in the production brings a unique edge to the overall story, especially En Lai Mah, who often plays the “patient” or “victim”his intensity palpable in each scene.

I Am Very Far succeeds in bringing forth reactions from the audience, but is at times slightly monotonous, with the dancing scenes lasting longer than needed. When the lights come on after the applause has faded, you will leave the theatre thoughtful and in tune with your individual reactions to life and its changes.

I Am Very Far runs until September 15 at the Helen Gardiner Playhouse (79 St. George St.). Tickets $12 at the door, $10 in advance. Email: pressgangtheatre@gmail.com.