Echo: Intriguing and Ambitious ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Susan Eve Haar's Echo, currently playing at the King's Head Theatre, is an undeniably ambitious play that bravely grapples with profound themes such as identity, intimacy, and power. While its exploration of these complex ideas is commendable, the production sometimes struggles to fully coalesce and resonate with its audience.

Set in an upstate New York B&B, the narrative unfolds in two distinct acts: initially focusing on a couple celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary, then shifting twenty years later to another pair returning to spread ashes. This structure features an intriguing, if unexpected, pivot from a grounded psychodrama into speculative science fiction through the introduction of cloning. While this genre blend aims for originality, it occasionally feels less cohesive than intended, presenting a unique challenge for the audience to navigate.

The central relationship, while clearly intended to be deeply intertwined, sometimes feels underdeveloped. The woman's emotional journey, driven by grief over infertility, is a compelling concept, though her more erratic moments could benefit from further nuanced exploration to fully convey their emotional weight. Similarly, her partner's shifting motivations, encompassing both jealousy and neediness, occasionally lead to a dynamic that is harder for the audience to fully grasp. While intimate scenes are a key component, some of these moments, though designed to convey passion, can feel repetitive and don't always propel the narrative forward as effectively as they might.

Ultimately, Echo demonstrates a clear ambition to explore challenging and relevant themes. While the production offers moments of intrigue, its ambitious blend of narrative and genre elements, alongside some underdeveloped character motivations, means it doesn't consistently achieve the cohesive and emotionally resonant experience it aspires to be.