Review: Slaughterhouse-Five (or the children’s crusade), Jack Studio Theatre

As a devoted Vonnegut fan, I approached Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five (or the children’s crusade) at the Jack Studio Theatre with a mix of excitement and confusion. How could anyone possibly stage this labyrinthine, genre-defying masterpiece? To my delight and relief, Eric Simonson’s adaptation, masterfully directed by Douglas Baker, not only captures the essence of Vonnegut’s non-linear narrative but elevates it through innovative staging and stellar performances.

The plot follows Billy Pilgrim, a World War II veteran whose life was forever altered by the firebombing of Dresden. Billy becomes “unstuck in time”, involuntarily jumping between moments in his life – from his mundane existence as an optometrist to his surreal abduction by Tralfamadorian aliens. As he ricochets through his own timeline, reliving key events, Billy transforms from an active participant into a detached spectator of his own existence. This fragmented narrative mirrors Billy’s fractured psyche, challenging the audience to piece together the puzzle of his life while grappling with themes of free will, war’s absurdity, and the nature of time.

The small cast shines, with most actors juggling four or five distinct characters, but some of their performances need special mention. Ben Howarth‘s Billy Pilgrim perfectly captures the mild dispassion and subtle fear of a man trapped as a spectator in his own life. Ethan Reid delivers a spine-chilling monologue as Paul Lazzaro, while also bringing eccentricity to Eliot Rosewater. Alex Crook’s take on Kilgore Trout is an unexpected delight that Vonnegut fans will surely appreciate. Sofia Engstrand brings depth to both Montana and Valencia, rounding out the ensemble’s versatility. 

The direction is both innovative and accessible, making the production complex but not convoluted. A transparent screen bisects the stage, creating a dynamic foreground and background that allows for simultaneous action. This ingenious setup enables parallel scenes to unfold seamlessly, while also serving as a canvas for creative projections: faceless silhouettes, toy soldier Nazis, the enigmatic Tralfamadorians, various visual effects, German subtitles, and contextual information, creating a rich, layered visual experience. 

One particularly striking motif evolves throughout the play: Vonnegut’s iconic phrase “So it goes” first appears as digital projections, then transitions to actors tossing crumpled papers across the stage. This ingenious choice captures the novel’s fatalistic refrain, with the casual discarding of these paper ‘lives’ mirroring the universe’s seeming indifference to human existence. The accumulating papers create a haunting visual representation of lives lost, powerfully illustrating the human toll of war.

These visual elements, coupled with Calum Perrin‘s evocative soundscapes, make the convoluted plot more digestible. Year indicators help the audience navigate Billy’s time jumps, while moments like the eerie birdsong after the Dresden massacre create a palpable atmosphere. The production also takes some delightful liberties with fourth-wall breaks, echoing Vonnegut’s playful narrative style. A particularly memorable moment sees Billy asking the audience for privacy, much to his on-stage partner’s confusion.

While such techniques might seem gimmicky in a traditional production, they’re practically essential for adapting Vonnegut’s complex, multi-layered narrative to a theatre setting, seamlessly blending the surreal with the tragically real.

Despite the stellar performances and innovative staging, there’s still room for the production to soar even higher. A slightly expanded cast could add more depth to the multitude of characters and prevent some confusion, while a longer runtime would allow for deeper exploration of the novel’s complex themes. These minor adjustments and just some overall further polish could elevate an already great production to truly out-of-this-world status. Slaughterhouse-Five at Jack Studio Theatre is a must-see for Vonnegut fans and newcomers alike. It’s a poignant, darkly funny, and visually striking adaptation that captures the spirit of the source material while carving out its own identity on stage.

Adaptation by Eric Simonson
Directed by: Douglas Baker
Sound Design by: Calum Perrin
Video Design by: Douglas Baker
Lighting Design by: Laurel Marks
Movement Direction by: Matthew Coulton
Produced by: So It Goes Theatre

Slaughterhouse-Five has completed its current run at Jack Studio.