TREES – A Musical Theater Piece

Based on the true story of the destruction of Earth. Inspired by The Hidden Life Of Trees by Peter Wohlleben. A theatrical glimpse into a dystopian future through the voices of the last remaining Trees. This musical addresses climate change, deforestation, and the selfishness of man. 

Black stage. Forest sounds. A woman undulates into a long, blue stretch tube dress: “Once upon a time there were trees…” She sings: There’s a window in the sky now/Where your mother used to live/You can see her, but she’s with you/In the wisdom that trees give… backing up we see she’s half again as tall (on a hidden platform) We will teach you all her lessons…

Three others appear in yellow, red, and green. In the carbon/In the forest/ In a life that’s free of pain…Under every rock/Under the ground/There’s a hidden world…They sing. Arms move gracefully. Choreography offers just the right amount of movement to indicate the figures have roots. Faces are immensely expressive. You can call us trees/We’re your family/The world must believe/We’re your family…Lighting is particularly striking, manifesting atmospheric changes, impressionistic images.

Despite spandex, the presentation feels ceremonial, totemic. Fine, mid-range voices blend and separate. Actors are affecting. We’re attentive, intrigued, sympathetic. “Over time, humans hunted and killed the trees till only a few remained…” Otherworldly theatrics give way to occasional sight of the stage being prepared, one vocal is filmed from a make-up table. Overlap is discomfiting.

Four titled solos follow: Oak, Willow, Redwood, Ginkgo Baloba. A mantra, a cry, a plea- resigned, in verse, song, and narration. “The last Ginkgo on earth…in China…growing inside a giant factory…pumped with fertilizer and hormones…”

Suddenly everything changes with the appearance of man. (Mur) Music grows angry, beat singular, the group often moves in unison. Lyrics allude to contemporary pop icons, capitalism/business/ politics. Painted faces grimace.

To my mind, TREES loses traction with this second part. Depicting the thoughtless greed of those who destroy with modernity instead of creating some ugly, mythic power severs the universal relationship created earlier. Nor does it help that lyrics are weaker. While the scenario is aptly jarring, this take seems like a different play. Concept is original and ambitious, however. Part one may be worth the modest price of admission.

“Up to 2000 species become extinct every day…We are here to save our souls/ If we don’t do something now, it’s our last empire.” An epilogue of tableaux vivants posits: “Show me how you feel erased.” The trees do just that.

Directed by Mur
Music and Lyrics by Mur
Produced by Wild Project
Featuring: Aisha Kerensa, Mur, Jade Litaker, Nyah Raposo, and Haley Fortune.    Choreography: Hannah Cullen
Costumes: Carter Kidd
Lighting: Kryssy Wright
Sound Mixing, Animation and Film Editor: Mur

Tickets available through January 1, 2021 at  thewildproject.org. 

Mur is a non-binary New York City based visual and performance artist with a focus in music composition. Mur’s mini musical videos have gone viral on social media and their visual work is on display at The Wild Bird Fund. 

Photos Courtesy of the production

Recommended: BBC Judi Dench Documentary: My Passion for Trees