Time travel is a tricky topic for anyone in the artistic world to tackle. There are rules to follow and time lines are rarely accurate, but in “Dave DaVinci Saves the Universe” it actually works, as heartfelt characters embark on an emotionally charged journey into the past, present and future.
When we meet Dave (Stephen Taylor, “The Sparrow”), he’s a jittery, lovably awkward 18-year-old self-proclaimed scientist, who is convinced he will successfully build a time machine. Future Dave (Dennis Watkins, “Hope Springs Infernal”) appears rather quickly and we learn, just like teenage Dave, that he actually does build a machine in the future. Easy enough, right?
Well, there would not be much of a story if it were that simple. Even Leonardo encountered some obstacles.
Future Dave has a wife, Norah (Stacy Stoltz, “Hatfield & McCoy”), who’s a musician and is having trouble communicating with Dave. They have a young daughter named Perdi (Paige Hoffman, “The Sparrow”), an exceptionally gifted science fiction writer. She has written six books in her “Cass Meridian” series, which follows the journey of three space explorers.
But Dave’s future holds a hard, harrowing truth. Early on, we learn that Perdi has committed suicide. This proves to be the plot point that propels the rest of the story, as Dave is convinced he can build a time machine that will allow him to fix everything. For Dave, sometimes “the answers are as simple as knowing the right buttons to press.”
Perhaps the most visually gripping moments occur when Dave reads aloud from his daughter’s books. Dave’s vivid imagination causes the simple living room set to transform into the interior of a spaceship in which the three crew members look like something from “The Fifth Element.” Arcturus (Carolyn Defrin, “The Sparrow”), a horned, bear-like creature simply shines onstage.
Dave eventually develops a relationship with the trio, and the crew guides him on his arduous journey. Their encounters are some of the play’s quirkiest, most genuine scenes.
While it’s not hard to keep track of the future and past characters, it definitely keeps you on your toes. It’s also quite amusing. In one exchange, Dave asks Nora “Do you mind if I talk to myself for a minute?”
The House is known for its unique, highly creative productions like “The Sparrow” and “The Terrible Tragedy of Peter Pan.” True to its predecessors, “Dave DaVinci” hits on all aesthetic cylinders. Think flashy lighting, other-worldly sound effects and time traveling made easy with the help of some wispy curtains and plenty of strobe lights.
Playwrights Chris Matthews, Jake Minton and Nathan Allen, who wrote 2007’s “The Sparrow,” infuse funky, comedic moments throughout Dave’s otherwise powerful, genuine journey to save his daughter.
“Dave DaVinci” first premiered at in 2005 at and the writers are approaching the script in an entirely new way.
While the play’s title is quite ambitious, taking risks has its perks. And the House has never been known to hold back. Embracing time travel is never easy, but this is a show that knows what's at stake and effectively delivers.
The House Theatre of
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