Last Wednesday evening, I made my way to The Cultch’s Historic Theatre to witness Alanna Mitchell’s “Sea Sick”, a production of Theatre Centre (Toronto). The show runs from February 9th-19th as part of the Femme Festival. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect outside of realizing the play was based on Mitchell’s bestselling book, “Sea Sick: The Global Ocean in Crisis” (2009).
The Formative Years
Descending from Norwegian seafarers, I’ve always felt my blood was a mixture of both saltwater and plasma. Thus, anything referencing the ocean had my attention. As the house lights slowly faded into stage lights with a 10-minute introduction, Alanna brought us into her life of wonderment and curiosity. Everyone soon learned she was the daughter of a University of Regina professor, George Mitchell. Therefore, Alanna Mitchell was both genetically predisposed and nurtured to chase scientific truths.
Her honest and vulnerable narrative led the audience around the globe on a truth-seeking adventure. These trips were initially derived to revisit Darwin’s life path. Charles Darwin was the highlight of many dinner conversations during Mitchell’s formative years. We also learned that through her investigative journalistic travels, she started to uncover some hard truths about our planet’s existence.
The Journey Begins
performed at The Theatre Centre in Toronto, Canada in October 2014.
For Mitchell, this became the inception of the book. As she tagged alongside notable marine scientists such as Sylvia Earle, Nancy Knowlton, Stu Ludsin, Joanie Kleypas, Carol Turley, Tim Flannery, and Amy Wright, Mitchell recounts the path that brought her to this date and time.
Like any truth seeker, the more information that was unearthed the harder it was to turn away. The scientific facts were so surreal that at one point, Mitchell struggled. This was when the play brings us to Mitchell’s existential crossroads.
Where to Now?
In a last heroic gasp, as she struggles with so much newfound information, an email arrives. Amy Wright invites Mitchell to join her deep-sea exploration which originally eluded the journalist. Wright’s communication became a wake-up call.
Going into some of the deepest depths of the ocean, a kilometre deep in a submersible, was a first for any journalist. How could she decline? Suddenly, some lightness at the end of a dark tale. It was the comedic interlude that brought everyone back. Mitchell brings us into this twinned bathtub capsule as she submerges into the ocean with three other scientists.
Reconciling the Truth
Meanwhile, in the 3-hour journey downwards, she reconciles her dilemma and draws the conclusion, that “hope is quintessentially human”. In the end, she points out that there are two things we can do to tackle this existential threat to our existence. Number one is to “forgive yourself” since, individually, we can do little to change the status quo. Mitchell recognized that forgiveness is the first step towards inner healing which is necessary for change. As this act can truly reshape our existence on this earth.
By Theresa K. Howell