Wilbury’s “Noise” is celebration of community

In my nearly 50 years of reviewing theatre, I have never seen a play quite like César Alvarez’s “Noise.”

The musical breaks all boundaries between actors and audience in a two-and-a-half-hour production that involves everyone in the building emotionally, intellectually and physically.

The lights dim. A disembodied voice explains that society isn’t working right these days, and we need to do something about that if we wish to survive.

He explains that we are about to see a musical that breaks all the rules about musicals.

And that it does!

One way to fix society is through music, he tells us.

The lights come up and we meet 13 diverse people who give us a lesson in how music was created, beginning with a cave man banging two rocks together.

“How did we get to where we are today?” the audience is asked as audience members and actors shout out their theories on why society is not working and what needs to be done to fix it.

Suggestions are written on poster boards and shared.

Act 1 ends with the audience and actors intermingling in a powerful moment that knocks down barriers and magically meshes “them” and “us.”

The playwright has cleverly succeeded in making the audience an important part of the production in a non-threatening way. You choose your level of participation and are never made to feel awkward.

After intermission, where activity continues in the lobby, audience members who wish to are invited to join in with actors on stage.

What could be an awkward situation is handled so simply and comfortably that you can feel the positive energy working, almost like a sensitivity lab of the sixties.

At one point we all become part of an “orchestra” comparing and creating sounds. Difficult to explain, you have to experience it.

Actors and audience members who wish to participate in another very funny segment, resulting in everyone shouting “I’m fine with that!” Again, you have to be part of it to experience the impact.

Bravo to Director Dante Green for making this innovative experience in participatory theatre work so well.

So what’s all this trying to say?

It is all about community and how we can survive in these chaotic times.

The experience of “Noise” will be different for different people. The participatory musical is a happening that will indeed be different every night that it is presented.

Go with an open mind.

Be touched.

Be inspired.

Be hopeful

“Noise” continues through Dec. 22 at Providence’s Wilbury Theatre Group in the Waterfire building.

Tickets at www.thewilburygroup.org/noise.