"Kyoto", an intelligent play written by Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson challenges typical expectations by narrating the international politics of climate change through the lens of a villain. Directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, the play charts ten years of complex negotiations that culminated in the 1997 Conference of the Parties (COP), where for the first time, nations pledged to decrease CO2 emissions.
The unexpected narrator is Don Pearlman, a former government strategist and lawyer, who represents the interests of major oil companies. Even though the focus of the play centers around climate change, the primary focus is the difficult transition from firmly held beliefs to indispensable compromise. It examines the tactics, end goals, and the process through which understanding is fostered and change is accomplished. It is less about the environment and more about ruthless diplomacy.
The production’s set, created by Miriam Buether, is a raised circular platform morning as a conference table and multi-location acting arena. The key characters are introduced, analyzed, and given room to articulate their positions. The high-energy dynamism of the production eclips that of mere flat exposition. Every country's chief representative is illustrated in the play, and as the story unfolds, the characters - in stark opposition to one another - begin to grow.
The humor present in the production, especially in the late stages, adds an element of absurdity to the proceeding, making it quite entertaining. The play, which debuted at Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, has been trimmed down by twenty minutes, making the pacing more dynamic. It has now been moved to London’s Soho Place theater for a limited run following its successful premiere, and is likely to continue to captivate audiences worldwide.
