'Sulfur Bottom' Off-Broadway review — family obligations in the time of climate crisis
Read our review of Sulfur Bottom off Broadway, a new play written by Rishi Varma and directed by Megumi Nakamura at The Theater Center through October.
Art imitates life, so a play that reflects climate anxiety is an inevitability in 2025. Writer Rishi Varma digs deep into our collective dread by portraying three generations of one family who are trapped, in one way or another, on a plot of land that has been poisoned by the factory taking over the town. In Sulfur Bottom, lives aren’t just shaped by all-too-powerful corporations, but by the decisions made by each generation as they try to do what they think is best to protect their family.
Among other things, Sulfur Bottom interrogates what family members owe each other. Sir Cavin (Kevin Richard Best) is practically hobbled by his drive to improve his daughter Fran’s (Kendyl Davis) meager life, while we see Cavin’s sister Melissa (Joyah Dominique) lose her fiery will to leave the family’s toxic house with age, despite the fact that her refusal to sell is keeping the next two generations stuck there. Fran, as she inherits her father’s burdens, makes a decision to escape the house that may have saved her daughter’s life, but which cuts her off from her history.
In Varma’s play, the history of the family has a way of staying alive. Under Megumi Nakamura's direction, Sulfur Bottom blurs time, memory, and reality intriguingly, allowing the family to communicate with each other beyond the grave. Dominique is a vibrant presence, lighting up the stage with both silly quips and reality checks, while Davis effortlessly transitions from angsty teen to harried young mother to wise ghost.
Some elements of the play come off as unfinished; for one, I could never quite wrap my head around the concept of a whale terrorizing a small town. Sulfur Bottom feels like it needs more development to reach its full potential, but Varma’s message is still powerful: If the only path towards a better life cuts you off from the people who love you, how could future generations ever come to terms with the choices of their forebears?
Sulfur Bottom summary
In a small town overrun by a faceless factory poisoning the ground with toxic chemicals, a family struggles to survive. From patriarch Cavin to his headstrong sister Melissa to his daughter Fran, their choices shape the lives of future generations. Their house is falling apart at the seams and may very well be killing them, but the decision to stay or leave is not as simple as it may seem. Each generation must confront harsh realities about their home and their family members when it becomes their turn to decide what’s right for them.
What to expect at Sulfur Bottom
One of the most striking features of the play is Sid Diamond's sound design, which drives the emotional beats and the transitions of the play. Sulfur Bottom runs for around 90 minutes with no intermission.
As the Sulfur Bottom Instagram page points out, people of color are exposed to 38% more polluted air than white people, an important fact to be acknowledged as the climate crisis becomes increasingly unavoidable. While the saga of Sir Cavin’s family may be accented with oddities like a mysterious, haunting whale, there is nothing futuristic about their struggle with a poisoned home. Who is bearing the brunt of these all-too-frequent natural disasters, once called “once-in-a-generation”? Varma shows us a glimpse into their stories.
Who should see Sulfur Bottom
- People who are interested in seeing the climate crisis explored on stage will find poignancy in Varma’s treatment of the topic.
- Theatregoers who are looking for a more low-key experience than a traditional Broadway theatre will appreciate the laid-back vibes of The Theater Center.
- Fans of dystopian drama with a splash of absurdism will find a lot to love about the toxic town and the family’s odd way of reclaiming their lost land.
Learn more about Sulfur Bottom off Broadway
Sulfur Bottom may stumble, but with a poignant message and a portrayal of a particular kind of modern despair, it is nonetheless moving.
Photo credit: Sulfur Bottom off Broadway. (Photos by Austin Pogrob)
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