"The Conference of the Birds"

September 8, 2022 — It was my second play this season in Meredith, New Hampshire at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse’s outdoor amphitheater, built in 2020 to provide a safer outdoor space for patrons during the pandemic. In July, “Robin Hood,” was terminated right about the halfway point when rain sent actors and audience scurrying for cover. The rain continued and the play was not resumed that evening. Full credit for admission was granted to all attendees in the form of gift certificates. The play would be in its final run the next day, not convenient for me, so I held on to my certificate until today’s play, never learning how “Robin Hood” ended.

Today’s presentation was the most unusual performance I’ve ever seen. “The Conference of the Birds” is a 900 B.C. sufi poem by Farid ud-Din Attar. This stage version was written by Peter Brook and Jean-Claude Carriere in 1977. The Winnipesaukee Production was wonderfully directed by Teisha Duncan. Klimchak (he only uses one name) composed and performed the score. The many colorful costumes were designed by Nick Cochran.

The cast, each playing multiple roles, featured Lupa Aguilar, Sarvin Alidaee, Nazlah Black, Erica Colarusso, Krystal Pope, Viviana Renteria and Alyssa Naka Silver. Klimchak was seated off to the side of the stage with all the instruments and other devices he used to produce the musical score and other sounds.

I have to own up to the fact that before I could complete writing down my impressions of this play, I had to do some research. The play moved too fast for me to catch all the dialog, action and underlying subtleties. The plot goes like this — the birds of the world have to decide who is to be their king. The leader of the birds tells them they have to cross seven valleys to reach Simorgh. The valleys are Quest, Love, Knowledge, Detachment, Unity, Wonderment and last but not least the valley of Poverty and Annihilation. Got that? Of course, these valleys are all human qualities and failures.

The cast of seven, in colorful costumes, face paint, masks and other adornments, frequently changing to different characters, performed beautifully in just an hour without intermission at a hectic pace, very close to the audience in the small amphitheater. Unlike my earlier experience, there was no danger of a rain-out on this sunny day with moderate temperature in the 70s in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region.