A Whale of a Character

The creators of the musical, The Further Shores of Knowing, approached me to join their production as a director and consultant. They thought my work on The Pearl Diver — a seafaring fable that began as a NYC Festival production and is currently being streamed as a fundraiser for Asian Americans Advancing Justice — displayed the imaginative staging they were looking for.

There is much to admire in The Further Shores which seeks to reawaken us to the simple beauty of the stars and the natural world. But what I immediately connected with is the character called “The Whale.” If you’re curious why he doesn’t have a proper name, or some cute “pet” name like you would give a dog — it’s because he doesn’t need one. It would only undermine his stature. “Whale” suits him perfectly.

As a Native New Yorker, I could appreciate the Whale’s wit, sarcasm and street smarts — or sea smarts, in this case. Mysterious creatures, whales are embedded in literature, folklore and the greater consciousness. Herman Melville’s whale, Moby Dick, was elusive and combative. The whale that swallowed Jonah, and ultimately spit him out onto dry land, was merciful. But the Whale in The Further Shores of Knowing is something else entirely. He is the perfect companion in a dim and distracted world to Jack Bigabee, the hero who sets out across the Pacific to reignite the North Star, which has suddenly gone dark because of humankind’s failings.

The Whale is funny, friendly, but no pushover. He has a fabulous intellect. He’s even capable of arguing finer points of logic. With a brain capacity that’s six times ours, maybe it is time we listen! Global biodiversity has declined alarmingly and whales are among the many species of plants, birds and mammals at risk of extinction. Giving the Whale a leading voice is more than entertaining, it is one of the ways we hope to raise consciousness.

In my next blog, I’ll discuss the directorial challenge of giving the Whale an authentic presence, instead of coming across like a cartoon character. In the meantime, I’d love to hear your thoughts on whales, your first impressions when you think of these miraculous beings, and any direct experiences you’ve had. And please join our mailing list so you can stay in touch with our progress as we seek to bring The Further Shores of Knowing to the stage.

“The Further Shores of Knowing” is a new and original musical that represents a light-filled journey to rediscover ourselves and our place in the cosmos. We welcome donations to support our production.