“The Motion”
By playwright Christopher Chen
By playwright Christopher Chen
Shotgun Players
September 20, 2025 8 PM
September 20, 2025 8 PM
Creation/Confusion/Celebration
First scene: The four actors, two on each side, led by a moderator,
confront the question, “Do we kill animals unjustly? And/or do we use
them for critical research that help human health, now and in the
First scene: The four actors, two on each side, led by a moderator,
confront the question, “Do we kill animals unjustly? And/or do we use
them for critical research that help human health, now and in the
future?” in the opening scene of “The Motion”.
The debate proceeds, the discussion more and less agitated and then….
The scene dissolves into charming (albeit conforming) middle class
marriages, each partner paired with one from the initial scene. (The
moderator disappears, but ultimately reappears as a willing (unhuman)
victim, to ‘test’ the ‘killing’ ques+on.) If this is a bit much to follow, OK!
“The Motion” is after all an explorative theatrical experiment.
Above all the acting is superb. Erin Gould, Jack Donovan, David
Sinako, Erin Mei-Ling Stuart, Soren Santos and Gabriella Maalihan
provide the witty dialogue in the debate as well as in ‘intimate’ scenes.
All are adept at moving from real to surreal that this play demands.
The play is directed by Shotgun founding director Patrick Dooley.
It is wonderful to have him back in that role. Patrick has given Berkeley
audiences thirty-two years of amazing, challenging theater. Bravo!
Sinako, Erin Mei-Ling Stuart, Soren Santos and Gabriella Maalihan
provide the witty dialogue in the debate as well as in ‘intimate’ scenes.
All are adept at moving from real to surreal that this play demands.
The play is directed by Shotgun founding director Patrick Dooley.
It is wonderful to have him back in that role. Patrick has given Berkeley
audiences thirty-two years of amazing, challenging theater. Bravo!