Theater Review: “Grounded” at N.C. Stage

Blythe Coons stars in Grounded by NC Stage and Immediate Theatre Project. Photo by Nina Swann Photography

In the early 21st century, rapidly advancing technologies have enhanced lives and improved the world, though some might argue that such advances detract from our humanity. Such a quandary is showcased in Grounded, onstage at NC Stage. The theater company opens its 15th season with a collaboration with Immediate Theatre Project. The play runs through Sunday, Oct. 9.

In Grounded, we meet a self-assured female jet fighter pilot played by Blythe Coons. She is skilled, dispensing death to the enemy from high in the sky. A touch of God complex is mixed with the adrenaline-junky lifestyle. Then a wrinkle occurs. She gets pregnant from a one night stand with a smooth-talking man who breaks through the ranks of the sky jockeys at a bar and sweeps her off her feet. From there, her whole world changes. Reassigned to become a drone pilot from a remote location in Nevada, the lead character is pushed out of the Air Force and into the “chair force,” being told that this was the way of the future. She is locked away with a small team of tech geeks. There, she stares at a computer screen for 12 hours a day inside an air-conditioned trailer on a military base with rows of identical trailers, filled with others who are similarly engaged.

Coons spends a tightly wound 90 minutes on stage alone, only referencing the others in her life. Her journey is an emotional one as she adjusts to a new way of life, far removed from actual warfare. The new technology and all its impersonal touches actually bring her closer to the war than ever before. Now, with cameras zooming in close, she sees the faces of those she stalks and helps to kill. The impersonal technology becomes intensely personal, as the rigors of this new norm in warfare begin to take their toll. Coons goes from cocky pilot to doting mother to emotional wreck with smooth precision.

The sparse-yet-effective stage design is by Willie Repoly and Deus Ex Machina Corp. The stage consists of a single pilot’s chair. It’s wedged between the stage floor and an angled screen that projects cloudy blue skies and coldly impersonal aerial footage as seen from the belly of a massive drone. This is all enhanced by a rumbling sound design by Toad Weakley and fast-moving lighting by CJ Barnwell. It is an intimate production, yet it’s filled with cutting-edge technical aspects, which perfectly reflect the tone of the text.

Director Charlie Flynn-McIver shows restraint, letting the simplicity of staging, playwright George Brant’s words and Coons’ wrenching performance carry the audience. The play moves from atmospheric highs to emotional tail spins that give a feeling in the pit of your stomach, as if you were actually there with the pilot for the entire harrowing journey.

WHAT: Grounded by George Brant
WHERE: N.C. Stage Company, 15 Stage Lane, ncstage.org
WHEN: Through Sunday, Oct. 9. Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. $16-$40

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Jeff Messer
playwright, actor, director and producer, Jeff Messer has been most recently known as a popular radio talk show host. He has been a part of the WNC theatre scene for over 25 years, and actively works with and supports most of the theatres throughout the region. Follow me @jeffdouglasmess

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

One thought on “Theater Review: “Grounded” at N.C. Stage

  1. Curious

    How unhinged is the character of the pilot meant to be understood by the end of the play? She alludes in one sentence that her superiors have been watching her, implying they know she’s going off some deep end, and she mentions that she has been court-martialed. Has she been found guilty and imprisoned?

    The play is very poetic, full of vivid imagery, sometimes lyrical. Are fighter pilots usually this poetic, imagistic, and lyrical about their work? Would seeing “Top Gun” be helpful? Could NC Stage invited Kelly McGillis to do a “talk back” after one of the performances?

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.