Ashes Ashes at Yellow Bicycle Theatre gives audiences a closer look at Enola Gay pilots in a tale that spans decades

-Brenda Hillegas
Feature photo: James C. Gavin, Mayo Kinoshita, Kassidy Kimata (by John Crann)

Yellow Bicycle Company is a fantastic new black box theatre and art house cinema just behind Love Park. And though I’m pretty bummed I can’t attend many shows that are part of this year’s Fringe Festival, I’m glad I made it out to the company’s performance of Ashes Ashes.

This thought provoking play is written by Yellow Bicycle Company creator, Joshua Crone (he also stars in and directs the performance). The theatre’s intimate setting is perfect for the portrayal of real-life Enola Gay pilots Paul Tibbets (played by James C. Gavin) and Robert Lewis (Crone), and a look at their lives after they dropped a bomb on Hiroshima. You’ll find yourself down a rabbit hole of information, what ifs, and a close look at what could have been going on inside of their heads…and so many others at that time.

Ashes Ashes takes audiences back and forth between 1955 Hiroshima and 1983 New York, imagining the events and personal battles these two men faced over the decades. Crone’s story grip’s viewers as we witness the pilots’ encounters with two young women who turn out to be a big part of their history- the Hiroshima survivor turned prostitute Miko (Mayo Kinoshita) and Japanese-American journalist Asuna (Kassidy Kimata). How are they all connected over 40 years after the bombs were dropped?

This is a not-to-be-missed Fringe Festival pick. With only four performances left, you need to make a plan to see it this weekend or next Thursday. Tickets are available here.

Keep Yellow Bicycle on your radar. This is certain to be a performance space gem in our city.