Pollution is bad. It affects all areas of our lives. However, our economy is directly connected to pollution. Factories create jobs and pollute at the same time. We bury the polluted waste, as if hiding it will remove the danger. People of color are most injured by pollution. The most destructive factories and dumping of toxic waste are placed in marginalized neighborhoods. These are the people who do not have the money and power to block any form of pollution. How does pollution affect these families?
In Sulfur Bottom, Rishi Varma forces us to closely examine the simplistic statement that pollution is bad. He has combined naturism and supernatural into a modern tale. This ranges from the surrealism of a dead whale terrorizing a community to a family meal where three of the four people are dead. Sulfur Bottom depicts three generations of a Black family bound to a piece of land affected by industrial contamination resulting from the expansion of local factories. Their lives are shaped not only by large corporations but also by each generation’s efforts to safeguard their family. The pursuit of jobs and economic growth has resulted in environmental injustice, perpetuating disadvantages over multiple generations.
It is the talented cast that moves the play forward. Kevin Richards Best is an experienced film, television, and stage actor. He deftly portrays Sir Cavin, the father. Sir Cavin desperately wants to improve his daughter’s life. However, economics blocks any effort he makes. Kendyl Davis, Sir Cavin’s daughter, transitions seamlessly from a rebellious youth to a dedicated mother, ultimately becoming a perceptive ghost. Joyah Dominque brings high energy to her role as Melissa, Sir Cavin’s sister. One can see how Melissa grows less determined to escape their toxic family home as she ages. Her refusal to sell traps future generations in poverty. As Sulfur Bottom moves back and forth over forty years, we meet other characters. Eric Easter, making his off-Broadway debut as Fran’s husband, Winter, skillfully plays both a naive young father and a weary elder. Feyisola Soetan’s acting makes Maeve, Winter’s daughter, a pivotal character in the last part of Sulfur Bottom. Her anguish is evident as she seeks her past. Aaron Dorelien is Copal, Sir Cavin’s friend. This is Dorelien’s off-Broadway debut. He depicts a man prepared to betray his friends and community by calling the disposal of industrial waste beneath their land a wise investment. Copal is willing to betray everyone for a new suit and a leather briefcase.
Sound and light engulf us with cues that surround the characters. Each revelation features a theme by composer Jacob Brandt. The house is on land that is so polluted that it groans in pain. Sid Diamond designed the sounds. Sam Weiser’s lighting reflects the jaundice of a population that is being slowly poisoned.
Sulfur Bottom runs for 80 minutes and employs clever humor, deep emotion, and a non-traditional structure to portray how families deal with economic hardship when relocation isn’t an option. This lack of equity is the heart of the play. Sulfur Bottom shifts from the familiar to the surreal, exploring what occurs when crisis enters your home. Although disjointed at times, Sulfur Bottom raises an important question. Rishi Varma asks how can we move to a better future? It is up to us to answer this.