A Note from the Director

When Graham and I first approached Harrison David Rivers about what would become I Couldn’t Tell You Why, Harrison spoke of this notion of a “loop.” It was around the time of the insurrection at the Capitol. Harrison said that he was interested in examining the ways in which external chaos feeds internal anxiety, which then manifests in behavior that perpetuates that initial chaos. While that might sound a little “head-y,” it immediately got me thinking about the ways in which we REACT these days. When we are so quick to respond, so quick to accuse, so quick to cancel...is anybody breathing anymore? Is anybody listening? Is anybody taking a second to reckon with their role in the situation and take accountability for the ways in which we add to the chaos when we clap back?

I Couldn’t Tell You Why takes us into the mind and memory of a queer man named Casey who is reckoning with deep-seeded trauma woven into his childhood memories of his father. Whenever I direct a play that structurally relies on a first-person narration, I immediately wonder, what’s not being said? What isn’t Casey telling us? My goal in devising the movement-interpretation of this piece is to envision the side of the story that isn’t heard but has the opportunity to be seen. I am asking my audience, do you trust what you hear or do you trust what you see? Now, what if I told you, both can be true?

It has been a great honor to work on this piece. Mining for the unsaid in this compelling narrative has at times been challenging but ultimately very rewarding. I have had the opportunity to broaden the scope of my directorial practice. My hope is that the result will broaden the lens through which the audience engages with the multi-sensory complexity of the ever-evolving theatrical form.

Tova Wolff

Word of mouth is key for theatre companies like us, which is why every follow is so important to spread the word about Refracted. If you haven’t already, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and sign up for our newsletter (we promise we won’t spam your inbox).