Is the world pure evil? For global Jews, October 7 (2023) certainly made it appear so. It was the 21st century Holocaust. Creator and composer Ari Jacob and co-writer Josh Gurgiel have taken that concept and turned it into a modern day reckoning. It is a parallel story to the flood in the Old Testament (Genesis chapters 6-9, to be exact).
The biblical tale is set 10 generations after the creation of Adam, when all the Almighty could see on earth was corruption and violence. So, He decided to destroy what He had created, although He found one righteous man – Noah – and instructed him to build an ark. Noah did so and took with him his wife and three sons, along with their wives and a pair of each kind of animal.
In the musical After The Flood, Noah (Simon Starr) is deeply troubled and argumentative. He is no longer as one with his wife, Naama (Deborah Conway) and not on the same wavelength as his children (in this case, two daughters and a son).
Eldest daughter Yafet (Michelle Swersky) is a young lawyer copping heat from Noah for having a non-Jewish partner. Son Ham (Eli Faraday), who is gay, has moved from the heart of the Jewish community (presumably Caulfield) to Preston. He is seriously considering moving again – this time to Berlin to be with his on-again/off-again lover. And then there is Shem (Amira Cherie), who is all but uncommunicative and suicidal.
All comes to a head one Friday night, as the family is meant to be enjoying a Sabbath meal together while celebrating Shem’s 19th birthday. Instead, one by one, the children leave the table before the meal, unable to connect with their father, who drinks to excess to drown his sorrows. That night he has a vision of a great flood and busies himself preparing for it. Naama thinks he has gone mad. So too Yafet and Ham.
But Shem also has the vision and, suddenly, it gives her a clarity and purpose she has never felt before. Lest you think the road ahead is straight forward, it isn’t and with enlightenment comes more tragedy for this family.
The story says the Jewish people will continue to be tested and need to be on guard, but they will always find a way through. The Almighty has ordained it to be so. Is After The Flood readily accessible to a broad audience? I am not convinced, for it is a decidedly Jewish tale of insecurity and doubt. Mind you, anyone who has been displaced through war or oppression can probably relate.
It isn’t a straightforward story. There are esoteric and spiritual elements – occasionally mighty leaps that could have done with more exposition. The building blocks are there, but more work is needed.
The most impressive element is undoubtedly the musical acumen of the five performers, accompanied by a live, nine-piece band, conducted by Adam Starr. Vocally, Simon Starr, Deborah Conway, Michelle Swersky, Eli Faraday and Amira Cherie certainly have what it takes. Mind you, the balance between the singers and the band isn’t always right, with the music on occasion subjugating the vocals.
As far as the acting is concerned, some members of the cast are stronger than others. There are elements of stiffness and pushing too hard that, hopefully, can be worked through as the short season plays out. Greater naturalness in the choreographed movements also wouldn’t go astray. I dare say a couple of preview performances would have helped bed down the production.
With appropriate props, the staging in Act I, in particular, is based around the movement of white, metal frames and darkened, solid, equipment cases on wheels. These are creative choices some might warm to more than others. Lighting and sound design play an important part in the realisation of the cataclysm. The emergence of thunder, lightning and the downpour hit the mark.
Directed by Rebecca Skovron, I applaud the thought behind, and concept of, After The Flood, and the endeavours that have gotten it to this point. Further development can only serve to strengthen it. It is an age-old story that needs to be told and retold, for Holocaust deniers cannot be allowed to take charge of the narrative. For more information and tickets, go to https://events.humanitix.com/aftertheflood. It has a running time of one hour 50 minutes, including interval.
Alex First
Other reviews you might enjoy:
- Songs from the Book of Life (Arts Centre Melbourne) – narrative concert review
- All is Good … in the Glow of Moonlight (Theatre Works’ Explosives Factory) – theatre review
Alex First is the editor of The Blurb. Alex is a Melbourne based journalist and communications specialist. He also contributes to The Blurb on film and theatre.