HB Studio in partnership with LES Shakespeare Company
present

BEE
Written by Sean Michael Welch
Created and Directed by Melanie Erfani

June 8 – 24, 2018
HB Studio Theater
124 Bank Street between Greenwich and Washington Streets
Reservations: www.lesshakespeareco.org or https://hbstudio.org/bee-june-2018

Scenic Designer – William B. Sawyer
Costume Designer – Dina El-Aziz
Lighting Designer – Christina Watanabe
Composer/Sound Designer – Sasha Hawkins
Asst. Director – Melissa Mowry
Choreographer – Ahmad Maaty
Stage Manager – Zuwaib Razzaq
Cast
Rakel Aroyo – Buket Gulbeyaz – Vered Hankin – Muge Karagulle– Dana Hart Lubeck
Aryana Sedarati – Cemre Su Salur – Brittany Zaken

I first saw BEE as a work in development in 2017. Now it has returned, slightly revamped but no less provocative for the three-week run in New York City. Based on the life of Creator/Director Melanie Erfani's Iranian grandmother, BEE also speaks to the stories of immigrants and refugees in general. Set primarily in the 1940's, the piece jumps back and forth in time, with narrative as recent as the 2000's. While the developmental piece made overt references to today's political climate, this iteration is more subtle in its suggestions.
The central character is Izat (once again portrayed by Buket Gulbeyaz), a young, abused wife in Iran. Physically and mentally attacked by her husband, she never accepts her fate as inevitable or unchangeable. She challenges the standards of her time and culture and divorces, remarries, but most significantly evolves and grows from her experiences. BEE does include an ongoing storyline about Izat's interactions with and feelings about bees. This is one mechanism to show the arc of her character over time, and to clarify the ways in which she has been able to triumph over oppression.

An interesting aspect of this production is the cast's collective movements to create motion on stage in what is otherwise a minimalist set with few props or set pieces. With ambient music, lighting, and projections to indicate where in time and geography the action is located. There is also repetition of critical concepts and dialogue to tie the timelines together.

It has been interesting to see this evolution of BEE. Removing some of the references to very recent or current affairs has probably afforded this show more relatability in years to come. The historical references, while not always as clear as in the development version, since some accompanying content has been removed, are more relevant to this particular story, which is about a family’s journey. In telling the story of people who emigrated seeking a better life, and a woman who overcame challenges to thrive, BEE tells a more universal story.

- Kessa De Santis -