Convergence-Continuum’s ‘Death Cruise 2020’ flounders

Usually I try not to slam any particular production too much. I mean, after all a huge amount of effort goes into each show. That is why I am puzzled when a production has gone through countless vetting procedures that at some point someone did not say, “Whoa! Hold on...is this show really ready for the stage or should it go back for a constructive rewrite and some intense rehearsing?” In short, what were they thinking?

Such is the unfortunate case of Convergence-Continuum’s production of “Death Cruise 2020” by Christopher Johnston. The show begins with the six member cast singing an insipid song “When the World Ends” while parading around with puppets. In fact puppets and various masks pop up throughout the show and most of the time you are left to wonder “Why? What is their purpose in moving forward the story?”.

The cast for whatever reason seems uncomfortable and ill prepared as nearly each character experiences the gips as they struggle with the dialogue. One by one they make a heroic attempt only to become tongue tied.

As for the tale itself, it deals with six persons on a luxury cruise aboard the ship “Halcyon Daze” (whose name is used to evoke former happy times). Covid has stuck the world while the ship has been at sea on its way to various ports of call in South America. As passengers and crew members begin to succumb to a mysterious illness and all shore leave is canceled as the ship drifts from port to port with their only contact with the outside world being the helicopter that delivers food and medicine on a regular basis. What they are in fact dealing with is Covid-19 and as are prepared to deal with it as much as the world was.

In spite of the situation, life on board ship goes on as normal as possible with those infected with the virus quarantined to their cabins and the uninfected continue to eat drink and make merry. Grief counseling groups are formed and meet at a regular basis (in actual fact too many times over the course of the play) with a moderator who insists that “God has all the answers”. Various shows are put on as a diversion in spite of the risk of these becoming “super spreader” events which in fact they do.

As for the stage set it falls far below the usual high standards of Con-Con and as the show proceeds the various used puppets are placed on the walls (do not ask me why since I do not know). It should also be noted that some members of the audience managed to “jump ship” at the intermission and were not seen again.

As Convergence-Continuum shows go, this one does not rise up to their usual high standards both in acting acumen and stage presentation. The silent puppets seemed to serve no useful purpose and the actors seemed in need of a few more rehearsals and previews before launching this show on an unsuspecting public.

Convergence-Continuum’s production of “Death Cruise 2020” will be on stage in the Liminis Theatre located at 2438 Scranton Road, Tremont, Ohio through June 28, 2025. For more information and tickets go to http://www.convergence-continuum.org or call (216) 687-0074.