When I first read the title of this play, I
instantly thought, “Oh Mr. Burns, like The
Simpsons!” but I convinced myself that it couldn't be the same Mr. Burns. After
all, what does Mr. Burns have to do with the post-electric? Apparently a lot
according to the playwrights.
I think it’s interesting that the
playwrights chose The Simpsons as the
pop culture icons to showcase in Mr.
Burns, a Post-Electric Play. The Simpsons have been a ubiquitous part of
our culture since 1989 and will be going into its 26th season
starting September 1st. The
Simpsons has added words to our cultural dictionary (D’oh!), and has had
practically every famous person in some way or another do a voice on the show. For
instance, Queen Elizabeth II has voiced herself on the show and Elizabeth
Taylor did the voice of infant Maggie Simpson in “Lisa’s First Word.” So it
makes perfect sense to choose characters from a television show that have had
such a profound effect on our culture to be the main characters of a troupe in
an apocalyptic setting.
The playwrights mention that they
chose The Simpson not only because it
is a long-running television show, but also because The Simpsons is a show that has strong character archetypes and
deals with the entire community. The title of the play is a nod to that, after
all as Mr. Burns isn't a member of the Simpsons family, but he has no doubt
influenced both them and our culture.
I also thought it was interesting
that the characters in the play actually use the stage to cope with the apocalypse
by performing in a stage troupe based on the Simpson episode “Cape Feare.” In this
episode, Sideshow Bob, the former assistant to Krusty the Clown and escaped
criminal, attempts to kill Bart because it was thanks to his efforts that put him
in prison for attempting to frame Krusty for an attempted robbery. In this episode no one
can help Bart; not the parole board who Sideshow Bob convinces to parole him;
not the Witness Relocation Program, who give the Simpsons a new surname and a
houseboat but cannot stop Sideshow Bob from strapping himself to the underside
of the Simpsons’ car. It’s interesting that the troupe chooses this episode because
it combines humor and terror. It’s terrifying to watch Bart have to deal with
an ex-criminal trying to kill him, but it’s also funny to watch Sideshow Bob
step on a lot of rakes and at one point get run over by elephants, and Bart
even manages to free himself from Sideshow Bob’s clutches by asking him to sing
the entire score of the H.M.S. Pinafore. Maybe the troupe chooses this episode
as a guide for them for how to find the humor in the terrifying as they deal with
the apocalypse?
Whatever the reason, I’m excited to
see this play!
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