by Alan Jozwiak
Bees.
They pollinate your crops, provide you with honey, or (in my case) invade your apartment.
They are synonymous with industriousness and wisdom and symbolize regal power and continuity.
But they also have come under threat from what is called colony collapse disorder, where entire colonies of bees die off without an apparent cause.
It is this condition that forms the basis for Falcon Theatre’s last show of their 2025-2026 season, The Apiary by Kate Douglas.
The Storyline
The play is set in the not-so-distant future (2044) where climate change forces wildlife to the brink of extinction. What wildlife that is left only exists inside research labs, which desperately try to save them. Zora (Rachel Mock) joins one such lab, working alongside her fellow lab assistant Pilar (Natasha Boeckmann) and supervisor Gwen (Amanda Marasch). Their job is to save the bees from extinction. Things change when former coworker Cece (Anna Hazard) shows up in the middle of the night at the lab. The results of her arrival give Zora and Pilar an unexpected new direction for helping the bees. The latter half of the play takes on a bit of a ghoulish tone almost akin to Sweeney Todd or Little Shop of Horrors (minus the blood and gore).
Performances
Director Chad Brinkman assembles a strong cast for this production. Rachel Mock delivers a memorable performance as Zora, a woman willing to do almost anything to save the bees. Mock’s firm sense of commitment comes through when she argues with Pilar over their course of action. She shines with the character’s abiding passion and moral flexibility. I also love her performance at the end of the play when she confesses to the bees. It is strong theatre.
Similarly, Boeckmann shines brightly. Pilar is the comic relief and moral compass of the play. Boeckmann delivers both of these traits to perfection. I also must compliment both her and Mock’s expert handling of the hive and beekeeping equipment. They really sold the idea that they knew what they were doing by tracking hive activity.
Rounding out the cast is Amanda Marasch as supervisor Gwen and Anna Hazard playing Cece and several other characters. Marasch’s Gwen blends ultimate pragmatism with a total lack of concern for human values. I love her reaction to the side experiment that Zora and Pilar conduct to boost the bee population. It encapsulates her character perfectly.
Hazard has the hard task of playing four different women, all of which she does quite well. I particularly enjoy her opening monologue where she talks about talking to the bees. It introduces that key concept and reveals her character’s humanity. Her role as the woman deciding against helping the bees is also creepy. It underscores the human cost of trying to save them.
Design
I would be remiss if I did not mention the standout work Chad Brinkman does as Scenic and Lighting Designer. This set feels very much like a lab. It’s all white, but does not feel sterile because of the patches of hexagonal honeycombs on the walls. Side panels break up the walls, adding depth to the set. Well done!
Overall
The Apiary starts slow, then raises the stakes dramatically by going in some unexpected and dark directions. As it progresses, themes of death and communicating with bees grow more prominent. This latter theme is truly thought-provoking and has cultural relevance. (When Queen Elizabeth II died, the royal beekeeper was tasked to inform her majesty’s hives of her death. It has not been reported what the bees said concerning the passing of the Queen.)
Overall, The Apiary is a compelling piece of theater that makes its audiences think, feel, and ponder the actions of its characters. This is a good play to see with someone. You will have much to talk about on the car ride back home. Just try not to drone on for too long.
The Apiary runs May 1-16, 2026. For ticket information, click here.
