.Beyond the Fourth Wall

The Forest War — Playwright and director Mark Jackson’s Asian-flavored The Forest War is very much rooted in the idea of place, and how it affects human interaction. The story is a mashup of anime, King Lear, and the nightly news. After winning a grueling war to see who gets control of the life-giving forest, aged Lord Kurag passed the ceremonial sword to a younger man. Conflict arises when that man turns out to be not Kain, his volatile son, but Kulan, a nobleman with dirt under his nails. Kain sets out to discredit the peace-loving Kulan, and things take a Clintonian turn. As well intentioned as Kulan is, can he possibly outmaneuver the Byzantine Kain — and his own indiscretions? This is an opulent show by Shotgun standards, from the elaborate pan-Asian costuming to the live music, which includes timpani, chimes, and shakuhachi. But The Forest War could have stood another round of workshopping. Sometimes the language moves beyond heightened into impenetrable, making for a cerebral product that can be difficult to connect with emotionally. Perhaps this is the way it is in the Asian theater forms Jackson is mining, but American audiences, raised on more realism and less exposition, may find the going difficult. That said, this is a gutsy show. As awkward as it is in places, there’s no question that it’s beautiful and powerful. Jackson has an eye for the show-ending image, and his Forest War is a bold undertaking that uses ancient forms to tell a modern story of love, politics, and needless bloodshed. — L.D. (Through January 14 at the Ashby Stage; ShotgunPlayers.org or 510-841-6500.)