no better man is a theatrical exploration of Doc Maynard and the history of Seattle. Combining an Old West pioneer travelogue with the diverse human stories which reveal America's origins, Pacific Northwest native Jacob Sidney presents an illustrated, interactive essay, peppered with humor and reflection, in the style of Spalding Gray. Born on the Olympic Peninsula and raised among the region's twin communities of loggers and artists, Sidney has long had a fascination with Seattle and the people who built it. In this one hour world premiere, he sets out to share a more complete and candid story than any he heard growing up. The staggering accomplishments of one determined man are viewed through a lens which includes their impact on indigenous people, women, the area's natural resources, and the American economy. The tensions which define US culture (Consumption vs. Conservation. Free-Thought vs. Tradition. Libertines vs. Moralizers) are nowhere more clearly on display than in the rainy city which gave the world outdoor gear, personal computers, and Kurt Cobain. Doc Maynard's extraordinary life brought him into the heart of this cultural tug of war, and made us both who we are today, and who we might be. |