A Corner of the Ocean is one of those plays that promises a lot, but then falls flat on their own premise, leaving you with a sense of having experienced something truly different, but nonsensical at the same time. Four women, constantly on stage, sharing the same set and props, retell their stories, while being isolated from each other in time and space. Confusing? There’s not much explanation for it. The only thing linking these four characters is the news that a man (with no clear relation to any of them anyways) has died in an accident.
Though the four actresses shine in their roles, the fact that the action goes nowhere means we can’t really care for them, and ultimately the brief glance at their lives feels slightly pointless and meaningless. An array of puppets only bring more oddness to the whole production, their appearance more a visual gimmick than anything else. Praise must given for the music, beautifully played on stage.
It is a pity, though, since A Corner of the Ocean is brimming with potential. The characters are well defined, the set is stunningly quirky, and there are some elements of the show that are gorgeously rendered (like the dance by one of the women with a giant shadow). Ultimately, though, the sum of its parts does not create a polished and memorable play. The production is flawed, and as much as the audience want to love it and be amazed by it, you can’t shake the sense of wasted opportunity.
3/5 
Adrian G. Velazquez
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