‘WindRush’ Is a Breath of Fresh Air
Content warning: ‘WindRush’ contains depictions of graphic violence, anti-Black racism, and the death of loved ones. While these topics are not discussed in depth in this review, they are quite prominent topics in the performance.
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How do Black Caribbean men say ‘I love you’? Or perhaps a better question is, how do they show it? This curiosity is what sparked Marcel Stewart’s inspiration for creating WindRush. Also playing the character Basil, Stewart pieces together a realistic and gripping story about a Jamaican man experiencing loss, grief, friendships, and siblinghood.
WindRush is one of the four shows that are a part of the Festival of Live Digital Arts (FOLDA). By incorporating digital media into performances, FOLDA hopes to make performances more accessible to artists. It uses ALPHA, BETA, GO programming, which categorizes performances into stages based on their degree of development. WindRush is categorized as an ALPHA performance. Performances such as this are in their earliest stages of development and request audience feedback to further develop the performance. When attending the show at The Broom Factory, audience members are handed a feedback slip and encouraged to answer the questions truthfully to aid in the project’s development.
When I had first been handed the feedback slip, I thought to myself how a performance featuring only a single person could bring to life an entire cast of characters. I had anticipated that I would not be able to distinguish one character from another. The truth is, it’s an arduous and complex task, but with creativity and passion, WindRush makes it possible. Through Stewart’s thoughtful incorporation of flashbacks in the script and the truly unique integration of immersive sound design and compositions by Miquelon Rodriguez, WindRush definitely succeeds at breathing life into their performance.
The introduction of a therapist as a character allows for seamless transitions from the present to the past in a comprehensive and reminiscent manner. The pacing of the flashbacks is deliberate, allowing for a smooth, happy transition into memories with very jarring and emotionally turbulent transitions back into the present. These transitions simultaneously provide insight to the audience and heighten the intensity of the emotion Stewart radiates.
In scenes where Basil attempts to reconnect with his brother Devon on the phone, the sound design is impeccable. Through the two speakers attached to the roof, pre-recorded voice clips of Devon and Basil play while Stewart, still on stage, acts Basil’s thought process, allowing us to hear his inner monologue and feelings, while also hearing the version of himself he chooses to show to his family. This design—which makes for moments where Basil says out loud what he had just thought in his inner monologue—allowed for more vulnerability and rawness.
Paired up with the immersive sound are abstract and well-tailored images and videos created by Projection Designer Samay Arcentales Cajas. When Basil recounts his fond childhood memories in the forests of Jamaica with his siblings, the projected design is a lush and green tropical forest with upbeat music. As Basil would trail off towards the end of his story, the perfect serene image on screen would begin to glitch and flicker, eventually becoming enveloped in red smoke as he fell back into a state of trepidation.
Despite the many hardships that Basil has endured and his repeated attempts at reconciliation, WindRush, in its entirety, delivers a performance that is both inspiring and unfiltered by showing us a full spectrum of emotions. From the joyful memories of friendship, childhood, and siblinghood, to the heart-wrenching experiences of loss, grief, and guilt, Stewart’s phenomenal acting never wavered. He skillfully transitions between scenes with ease, never falling into an awkward beat.
What makes WindRush such a powerful show is its ties to the experiences of real people all across the world. Stewart’s creative digital media additions flourish under the spotlight and draw audience members into Basil’s inner world, leading them to feel the fragile and vulnerable nature of relationships. WindRush is a must-see show for those looking to reflect inward on the meaning of home, love, and relationships.
‘WindRush’ played as part of FOLDA in-person at ‘The Broom Factory’ and was also streamed online. More information can be found here.
