Continuity

by Bess Wohl, Johnny Berchtold (Narrator), Seamus Dever (Narrator)

A sheet of ice sits in the desert of New Mexico. A mad eco-terrorist plants a bomb in order to save humankind. A beleaguered film crew tries to get in one last shot before losing the light. Storytelling and science collide with hilarious and devastating consequences.

“Continuity” is part of L.A. Theatre Works’ Relativity Series of science-themed plays. Lead funding for the Relativity Series is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, bridging science and the arts in the modern world.

Recorded at The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood in December 2022.

Directed by Anna Lyse Erikson

Producing Susan Albert Loewenberg

An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast production

Johnny Berchtold as Jake and George

Seamus Dever as David Caxton

Sarah Drew as Eve and Nicole

Mark Holden as Sound Guy

Desireé Mee Jung as First AD

Kurt Kanazawa as The PA

Stacey Martinez as Second PA

Bukola Ogunmola as Dr. Anna Gerber and Lily

Devon Sorvari as Second AD and Camera Op Stephen Tobolowsky as Larry

Liza Weil as Maria

Senior Anna Lyse Erikson

Audio Concept Design by Mark Holden

Recording Engineer and Neil Wogenson

Sound Mark Holden, David Wilson and Charles Carroll

Mixing Charles Carroll

Prepared for Audio by Mark Holden for The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood

Senior Radio Ronn Lipkin

Foley Jeff Gardner

Genres: Plays, Audiobook, Fiction

Audible Audio

Published March 9, 2023

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5, rounded up.

Wohl tends to run hot and cold for me, but this one is definitely in the winner's circle. It details the trial of a film crew stuck in the New Mexico desert (inexplicably subbing for Antartica), trying to make what appears to be a hokey disaster movie centered on climate change. The main characters include the vapid, Botoxed cokehead leading actress (named Nicole ... hmmmmm!!); the closeted action star leading man; a classically-trained black British character actress, who no matter how little she does, is always told to do less; the harried neophyte female director just trying to get the f-ing movie finished; her screenwriter ex, who has his own schemes in tow; and poor Larry, the science guy who has to fact check all the movie's claims in that realm.

The play is both hilarious, and yet deals soberly with some vitally important climate issues. Set and prop requirements probably means very few actual productions, but if it ever plays near me, I am so there for it - although the reviews of the premiere NY production indicate it didn't really quite work. :-(

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/21/th...
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lif...
https://nystagereview.com/2019/05/21/...
https://www.vulture.com/2019/05/theat...
https://www.thewrap.com/continuity-th...

[kaitlphere · Rating 2 out of 5]

The combination of elements in this story was interesting. There have been plenty of disaster movies that get climate change wrong and I liked the concept of the actors bringing in an expert and changing the script to get the science right.

The metaphor that we all need to independently choose to work together in order to create something good (like a solution to climate change) was organic.

The insertion of the realities of climate change felt pretty forced. The scientist was so timid to give people bad news that I got annoyed by it--the actors are asking directly and he really drags his feet to tell them.

I liked the full cast audio but the audio effects were sometimes overly loud, particularly at the beginning.

[Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was both illuminating and relatable. We all want to make a difference, and we all want to do what makes us happy. How can we do both while also saving the planet from climate change?

This definitely wasn't hope-core, but it wasn't doom and gloom either. It was a bit meta considering it's a play about a making a movie.

[Jonathan May · Rating 4 out of 5]

using the framework of film-making, Wohl is able to play with our sense of pathos by weaving in and out of characters, motivations, and appearances

[She Reads Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the full cast. the continuity was lacking.

[Emily C]

(Hoopla bonus borrow)

[Beckiezra · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable peek behind the scenes of movie making with a message about climate change. It seems like it would’ve been fun to see as a play but the voice actors did a good job.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

5/10

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d recognize Paris Geller’s voice anywhere

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down to 3

Amusing little play drama that touches on some important topics with humor.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an odd read. Trying to be scientific but on the set of a stupid hollywood action movie about...melting the ice caps? Barely remember it after finishing it.

[Wen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Multiple layers of actors and a lot of stereotypes wrapped into one but still engaging and for the amount of time that the story is told: a very compact drama.

[Caroline]

this play this play this play!

looking forward to doing this show!!

[Aaron Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't quite love this—it's a bit too lacking in theatricality for my taste—but I think it's definitely better than most of the stuff I read that's written for regional theatres. It's a play about making a movie about climate change. It has six scenes—in a clever gimmick, in fact, it's six takes of the same scene. It's funny and sometimes smart and has some nice moments. This is a play about making a movie, and so this has lots of banter and multiple things going on and also some good jokes. It also gets us a lot of information about climate change and it does that without it feeling like we're being beat over the head with it.