"the aves": A Heartfelt yet Comedic Take on the Human Experience

It is a powerful thing when a production can elicit frequent bouts of laughter, moments of quiet introspection, and tearful post-show hugs with family and friends, all within a 90-minute runtime. the aves accomplishes just this, transforming what appears to be a simple story of an elderly couple on a park bench observing the world around them into a wonderfully complex tale of aging, memory, sacrifice, and relationships. 

It is challenging to explain the magic of the aves without spoiling “the exchange”, that is so central to the plot, as it is not revealed explicitly until the end of the show. The plot features sci-fi-esque themes, which positively contradicted the assumption I had going into the show, that it would be a typical and realistic tale. the aves skillfully shows, rather than tells, the audience what is happening, which creates an engaging experience as the audience pieces together the puzzle of the plot for themselves. As these pieces finally fall into place and details are revealed, several gasps can be heard from the audience. 

The interactions between characters feel authentic and reminiscent of people in my own life, as if Old Man (R. Hamilton Wright) and Old Woman (Kathy Hsieh) were my own grandparents having a simple conversation about birds and the 50 years they have been together. I found that the comedy was very grounded rather than over the top, as the elderly couple pokes fun at one another in a loving way that exemplifies their connection over many years of marriage. I found that this way in which they joke with one another added an air of lightheartedness to complement the sadness and sentimentality of the rest of the show, describing the human experience as a complex blend of laughter and loss. Additionally, the youthful “gym bro” energy of Young Man (Jerik Fernandez), who desperately craves the wisdom of the quiet and retrospective old man, adds a more outgoing comedic energy to the show, making it my favorite character portrayal. As for the more heartfelt elements, a conversation between Young Woman (Varinique “V” Davis) and Old Woman was especially touching to me as they discussed their experiences with age and the trade-offs that come with living life in different stages. 

The simplistic yet beautiful set, designed by L.B Morse, allowed the comedic banter and chemistry between the actors to shine through as it nicely accompanied and placed emphasis on the words in the script rather than distracting with complex blocking or set changes. The consistent setting of a park, featuring a bench on which all of the performance’s conversations took place, beautiful projections of clouds and sunsets, and lush greenery served as a visually pleasing backdrop to the story of the aves. My favorite feature of the set was four large branches hanging from the ceiling, adorned with flowers or leaves to match the season each represented. As each season passed, the stage lights would shine on the corresponding branch, creating a lovely visual representation of time. The music playing in the background felt tranquil yet somber, and the frequent bird sounds helped to establish the park in which the bench serves as a mere glimpse into the vast lives of the characters. 

Undeniably comedic, the aves touched me with its masterful wordplay and sarcastic sense of humor, as well as its exploration into deeper themes of identity, love, and the differences between the body and the soul as they make up individuals. As a teenager and despite being much younger than the age group viewing the aves on opening night, I specifically related to the feeling of being stuck between childhood and adulthood and wanting both the wisdom that comes with growing up and the youth and liveliness that comes with being young. There is definitely a feeling for many of “the grass being greener on the other side” and being dissatisfied with yourself for one reason or another at any age. In addition to the complexities that come with age, the aves highlights the power of forgiveness through the characters’ willingness to forgive others and themselves for hurtful choices. An essential part of being human is choosing whether or not to exercise forgiveness, and the characters of this story compelled me to recognize how wonderful and important it is to forgive.

Lead photo: Kathy Hsieh and R. Hamilton Wright in the aves at Union Arts Center. Photo by Giao Nguyen.

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