The Lathe of Heaven
Adapted and directed by Edward Einhorn
Based on the book by Ursula K. Le Guin
With original music by Henry Akona
Untitled Theater Company No. 61
At the 3LD Art and Technology Center

Submitted by Science Fiction and Other ODDysseys Play Critic, Clare Deming. 

A few blocks off Broadway, in lower Manhattan, a man dreams. George Orr is the dreamer, the central character of a new adaptation of Ursula K. Le Guin's award-winning novel, The Lathe of Heaven. The show opened this past weekend at the 3LD Art and Technology Center.


When George dreams, he awakens to a reality that has been changed by the events of his dream. These "effective" dreams terrify George, for they are often nightmarish, and he cannot control them. When he awakens, no one else is aware of the changes, which are frequently retroactive, creating new memories and life experiences for those affected. Only George sees both the old and the new realities.

George has tried to suppress his "effective" dreams by taking drugs obtained through illegal channels. To avoid prosecution for the drug charges, he enters voluntary therapy. Dr. Haber is an oneirologist; he studies dreams. The doctor believes that Mr. Orr needs his dreams, and uses his invention, the Augmentor, to help guide the dreams, to try to force them into safer patterns. When Dr. Haber activates the Augmentor, George sleeps, and any suggestions that the doctor makes, translate to his dreams.

Soon enough, the Augmentor takes effect, and the benign suggestions of Dr. Haber manifest as new realities. The initial alterations are simple - the photo of Mt. Hood on the wall of the office is replaced by that of a horse. George is not pleased by the treatment methods of Dr. Haber, fearing additional deviations to reality, and consults with Heather Le Lache, a civil rights lawyer. She agrees to inspect Dr. Haber's practice and the Augmentor device. Yet despite this and George's other attempts to dissuade the doctor from making further dream suggestions, the changes cascade from his mind and into the waking world.

The story continues in this vein, but the changes become more serious. Weather, history, and politics, and the families, background, and motivations of the other characters all suffer. Eventually, the play compares the dream state to reality, and the audience is left to wonder: "Who is the dreamer? Who is the dream?" This is a recurring theme and the ultimate question asked by the story.

The original music by Henry Akona was a fitting accompaniment to the show, with musicians on piano, cello, and vocals. A few vocal passages stretched longer than I felt necessary, since the words were repetitive, but the quality of the performance was superb. The music matched the emotional state of the dreamer well, and also gave clear cues to complement the shifts in reality.

The set was simple, but effective. I particularly liked the way that different images were projected on the semi-opaque backdrops. Shifting brain scans were used to simulate the functions of the Augmentor. The fluctuating images also allowed the "effective" dreaming to change the set around the characters in smooth transitions. Also, the musicians could be seen through the screens when the lighting shifted to focus upon them.

I enjoyed the show, although I have not read the original book and cannot comment on how faithful the script is to that text. However, coming to watch the production with no prior knowledge of this work, I had no difficulty following any of the ideas therein.

The theater was warm, but I believe that air conditioning may soon be available. A selection of refreshments was available for purchase - water, soda, and beer.

The Lathe of Heaven is playing through June 30, Wednesday through Saturday at 8 pm, and Sundays at 5 pm, with additional shows on Saturday, June 23 and June 30 at 3pm. Ticket prices range between $25-40 and can be purchased through www.untitledtheater.com or by calling (212) 352-3101.

Sci-fi and fantasy plays, games, interviews and animation

I'm seeing more and more sci-fi plays. I think it's great. What follows is all over the map, but there should be something for everyone.

Live in or near Toronto? Here's another sci-fi play. It's running through June 2nd. Here's the synopsis I was given:

The show is called "Islands" and it is set in the year 2512. Humanity was almost wiped out by nuclear war a few hundred years earlier, but the civilization on this Island managed to survive. Over time they reached out and re-colonized and brought civilization back to the rest of the world. However, the Islanders have an oligarchy built on science and logic. So eventually they come into political and religious conflict with some of the people whom they've "reclaimed." This play examines the conflict between the two dueling factions, and the dynamic between the governed and the rulers.

Read character bios, expanded synopsis and a video about the concept of the show at www.draft89.com A little late, but here's a trailer for the Game of Thrones RPG.

And there's a fantasy play based on Ursula K Le Guin's Lathe of Heaven. You'll have to click on it to actually read it. If you don't have to, I wish I had your vision!

I'm sending a reviewer, so there's more to come. This is just your chance to save the date.

And swinging back to technology and special effects, here's a video with a producer of a stop-action film with lots of cool special effects where he says how he achieves the effects on the cheap. His last film won an award. Check it out.

And this just in from the Minister of Chance gang. Don't know about Minister of Chance? Then you haven't been a faithful SFOO reader. Pop Minister of Chance in the Google box to the right and you'll find tons of information about this fabulous sci-fi audio play.

We're delighted to say that thanks to your generosity in funding The Minister of Chance Episode 3 that we start recording on Monday at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. We're even more delighted to say that the fantastic Tamsin Greig will be joining the cast as the mysterious Sage of The Waves (yes, that's also Dan's Twitter name!). For more details please check out the new "News" page on the website. Oh and remember to buy loads of merchandise :)

And here's a little something for Leonard Nimoy fans. The Nerdist channel has a two part interview by Hero Complex.

BBC interviews of 10 SF Authors now on CD

Science Fiction Writers
British Library Board 2011
Interviews date from 1977 through 2001.

Distributed by the University of Chicago Press

Reviewed by Ann Wilkes

I completely enjoyed listening to the interviews on this CD. The majority of the interviews were conducted in such a way as to bring out interesting anecdotes and facts of which I was formerly unaware. The authors interviewed are as follows:

Douglas Adams
Isaac Asimov
J G Ballard
Ray Bradbury
Arthur C Clarke
Ursula K Le Guin
Michael Moorcock
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Also included is what seems to be a joint panel discussion or lecture led by Brian Aldiss and Doris Lessing as there is not interviewer on that recording. These are ALL previously unreleased recordings.

The gems you'll hear on this crisply mastered CD include an interview with Isaac Asimov on his 70th birthday in which he states that the kinetic theory of gases is what sparked his idea of psycho-history that is the "science" running through his Foundation series. Brian Aldiss tips his hat to Mary Shelley for writing what he thinks is the first truly science fiction novel.

Doris Lessing said she was struck by the defensiveness of pulp sci-fi authors in the States. She also said that though she thoroughly enjoyed Asimov's Foundation series, it's not really sci-fi, because there's no science. She goes on to say the Foundation series contains "brilliant sociology." Since when are robots, space travel and sociology not science?

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. explains why he chops up his books in short bursts. He also addresses his use of social commentary and satire, pointing out the reason why the defenders of the Alamo were really fighting in his novel, Hocus Pocus: for their right to own slaves.

Did you know that Ray Bradbury had a hand in the archetectural designs of Epcott Center, Disneyworld and World Fairs? A builder in Glendale (CA) even made a mall based on an article of his about a city of the future. He talks of his dream of globalism and a united space exploration instead of men of the same planet fighting one another. "Men want to be destroyed. But they should be destroyed for a good cause and the good cause is space."

The woman who interviewed Ursula K. LeGuin basically asks her if she would fancy being a father and a mother like the characters in The Left Hand of Darkness. And asked her if she thought of herself as an anarchist because she wrote about anarchists. Why is it that the one woman actually interviewed was interviewed by someone who obviously doesn't understand science fiction? LeGuin, however, handles the situation with aplomb and grace with wonderful tidbits like, "You can have books and babies. They are not mutually hostile occupations."

I highly recommend this CD for any sci-fi fan or writer. For more information or to buy your copy for $15, visit the University of Chicago Press.