Review: Theater Artists Olympia presents ‘Anna Considers Mars’ 

Rachel Benton

I cannot over emphasize how extremely happy it makes me to see my friends at Theater Artists Olympia (TAO) have a new home at last!  

I’ve been keeping a close eye on the progress of this theater at 214 Jefferson St. SE in Olympia, and it truly amazes me to see how much progress was made in such a quick amount of time. The love and dedication of each person involved inspires me.  

A shout-out to every single person who has helped to make this dream come true. You can read more about the vision of this show and of the theater in this previous article. 

The renovations of their new space is truly remarkable, and I invite you all to purchase a ticket to TAO’s new show, “Anna Considers Mars,” so you can see the magic for yourselves.  

 'Anna Considers Mars' 

The quality of the acting, set design, costume design and special effects are extraordinary. All the good and innovative qualities of the show line up with previous TAO productions, yet somehow these thoughtful touches feel revolutionary for our little corner of the world.   

 I must applaud:  

• The way Lesley Gordon navigated so many emotions and circumstances in such a short amount of time. 

• Gabriel McClelland for the way he shaped the charisma of his character. 

• John Serembe for remaining true to character, in spite of all the crazy things thrown his way.  

• Heather Christopher and Drew Doyle for their dedication, willingness to embrace silliness, and impressive focus when playing their millions of characters. 

• Kate Ayer’s for finding ways to make a smile and laugh in the midst of depicting a really nuanced character.  

• Director Pug Bujeaud is so intentional to every detail of each show she puts together. The love she has for her craft, cast and community is tangible and deserves to be celebrated. 

Bujeaud is a theatrical genius in more ways than one, and we are truly fortunate to have her and everyone else at TAO in our community. Please continue to send donations their way so they can thrive and continue to take us on thought provoking, unique and unexpected journeys. 

 With a script unlike anything I’ve seen before, “Anna Considers Mars” consistently surprised me. A hodgepodge of satire, quirkiness, cultural references and inevitable truths, this show forces you to think about the good, the bad, and the consequences of “progress” in this world.  

 Despite what ads tell us, with “progress” comes a loss of simplicity and a reduction of humanity. There are many devices used within this play to represent filters, technological takeover and escapism. All of these realistic innovations increase our loneliness as we grow less dependent on human interaction. 

Truly multifaceted, “Anna Considers Mars” forces us to interact with multiple deep and complex questions.

Questions like:  

• Who and where should we prioritize our charitable giving and extending of a helping hand, and why? 

• Is the grass always greener on the other side, or is it greener where we water it? 

• Should we escape when something troubles us, or do we invest and fight for a better world? 

The answers to all the above seem black-and-white because of an obvious common sense, but as current politics and polarization can tell us, there is actually a lot of room for complication and varied interpretation.  

Depending on our personal circumstances or beliefs, we are bound to disagree on all of these and more. Yet, we must find a way to navigate this broken world together in peace. The arts provide a perfect foundation for us to begin this important work. 

On our drive home, my mom and I discussed the way the show made us feel personally. It led to a deeper discussion of how we all have different interpretations of what hope looks like in society. 

I think some people will watch “Anna Considers Mars” and leave feeling jovial and hope filled. Others might enjoy a few laughs during the show, but leave with a sense of bittersweet and melancholy. 

In the case of the show, any reaction is a good reaction because it means that all the mechanisms of numbing and desensitization have been silenced, and your humanity is shining as you allow yourself to feel your feelings. 

Many people avoid any complex emotions and will use whatever means of distraction and redirection in order to avoid these tough moments life presents us. We must remember laughter is healing, but so is critical thinking. Joy and grief both inspire us in different ways.  

I encourage you to dive in and engage in these relevant, complex discussions of today’s world.  You can do this by buying a ticket to this show and marking your calendars for TAO’s next show, “An Improbable Peck of Plays,” happening on Aug. 21-30.  

Rachel is a writer, arts advocate, performing arts enthusiast, and passionate about our beloved Thurston County. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in History and Political Science and minor in Music. You can enjoy more of Rachel's writings by visiting her website. All inquiries for Rachel can be submitted here.