PigPen Presents: The Mountain Song

devised and directed by Alex Falberg, Ben Ferguson, Curtis Gillen, Ryan Melia, Matt Nuernberger, Arya Shahi, and Dan Weschler

Kraine Theatre

PigPen Theatre Company, who impressed last year with their show The Nightmare Song, are back and better than ever in their latest piece, The Mountain Song. This latest play features the company’s signature style. Featuring seven male performers (each recent graduates of Carnegie Mellon University, where they formed their troupe), the company band together to tell an original folk tale of their own devising.

In The Mountain Song, the action centers around a carpenter who goes on a quest to find his daughter’s wedding. You see, she doesn’t talk (she’s gone off to the big city to learn how to sign), but the message she sends back to her father informing him of her engagement is too brief to interpret. The carpenter tries traveling down three rivers, encountering an anthropomorphic goose, a giant, and plenty of other mishaps along the way.

Interspersed throughout are atmospheric folksy bluegrass numbers. Not only are these talented men capable actors, they also make tuneful music that not only entertains but also enhances the plot. Ben Ferguson, who plays the mountain, has a comforting timbre and an easy way with a story. Ryan Melia has perhaps the most impressive voices; the ballad he sings as the goose is particularly transporting.

Aside from being talented actors and singers, you see, PigPen also make use of some clever stage techniques, including puppetry and shadow puppetry, as well as silhouette cutouts and placards, all of which come together to make for an exciting, accomplished evening of theatre.

Remaining Shows: THURS 25 @ 10, FRI 26 @ 3:45, SAT 27 @ NOON

– Richard Patterson