Spill

by Leigh Fondakowski, Elisa Bocanegra (Narrator), Gilbert Glenn Brown (Narrator)

In April of 2010, British Petroleum gave orders to speed up production on its colossal drilling rig, the Deepwater Horizon. Despite the objections of many on the rig, safety measures were ignored or overlooked. On April 20th, the Deepwater Horizon exploded. Eleven men paid the ultimate price and countless thousands who call the Gulf Coast home found their lives irrevocably altered. Includes a conversation with Jim Morris, Managing Editor for the Environment and Worker Safety for the Center for Public Integrity. Spill is part of our Relativity Series, presented with major funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, bridging science and the arts in the modern world. Directed by Martin Jarvis. An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast recording, starring: Elisa Bocanegra as Arleen Weise, Andrea Fleytas Gilbert Glenn Brown as Obama, Jorey Danos, Christopher Pleasant Nicholas Hormann as Bob Bea, Pat O'Bryan, Gary Bartholemy, Wyman Wheeler Travis Johns as Keith Jones, Steve Bertone, Jonathan Henderson Jane Kaczmarek as Narrator, Lillian Miller James Morrison as Bill Anderson, Randy Ezell, Billy Nungesser Darren Richardson as Tony Hayward, Jimmy Harrell, Gordon Jones, Don Vidrine Kate Steele as Shelley Anderson, Jolene Danos Mark Jude Sullivan as Jason Anderson, Mike Williams Production Manager, Nikki Hyde. Music Supervisor, Ronn Lipkin. Associate Artistic Director, Anna Lyse Erikson. Editor, Julian Nicholson. Recording Engineer, Sound Designer and Mixer, Mark Holden for The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood. Recorded live in performance at UCLA’s James Bridges Theater in May 2018.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction, History, Plays, Drama, Survival, Environment

2 pages, Audible Audio

First published August 1, 2018

Reviews

[Etienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another «version» of way to tell the story of Deepwater Horizon. A true tragedy can’t say anything against that. Also working on those drilling platform is just a high risky job that we should have a long discussion to determine if this is really necessary in our modern world... Anyway, for the book, it was good, we feel the tragedy, the life impacted by it, and the form that goes from various «interview» and discussion and memory, all is well done. I listen to it on audiobook and the «acting» the voice part of it really raise the bar because it allows me to feel emotion that I’m not sure I would have feel just reading it. Good book and wonderful audio part!

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

This performance by L.A. Theatre Works relates the story of British Petroleum's Deepwater Horizon oil spill through the "voices" of survivors, spouses, and other interested parties. Listeners hear concerns about safety protocols which were ignored because "time is money." They also learn how unprepared the oil industry was to deal with catastrophic events such as this one. The story mainly focuses on the human toll. A very brief section discusses the environmental impact, but it is not the work's emphasis. Those interested in that angle would be better served by other books on the disaster. This title was offered for free download by AudioSync in May 2019 with no strings attached.

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Play about BP Deepwater Horizon Tragedy heard as an audiobook. I must admit it took a little time to get into it - there's something about script dialog that it seems artificial and unrealistic initially - you hear it and can just see the person on the stage with the spotlight on them - versus how it really would be in reality. However the story grows on you as it evolves and particularly the bits about the cover up, the dropping of survivors, the signing of disclaimers and the health problems of the people cleaning up the mess.

[Leslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5*
Spill is a play from off, off Broadway about the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster of 2010 that led to 11 deaths . An interesting topic but the action jumped from one person/story to another too abruptly and too often, making it difficult to follow.

This LATW audiobook edition was performed by Elisa Bocanegra, Gilbert Glenn Brown, Nicholas Hormann, Travis Johns, Jane Kaczmarek, James Morrison, Darren Richardson, Kate Steele and Mark Jude Sullivan.

[Sandy]

I received a download copy of this novel from Sync Audiobooks for Teens

[Pinky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic play about the BP oil spill and tragic mismanagement of the rig Deep Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Lives lost, millions of tons of oil polluting the gulf and immeasurable damage to the surrounding ecosystems. I was introduced to this as part of AudiobookSync. It was paired with McCall Hoyle’s Meet the Sky, a book about the unstoppable power of nature and the devastation of a hurricane.

Fantastic for a discussion about natural v man made disasters and environmental impact.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook Sync offered this 2hr audio play by LA Theater Works going over the events of BP’s catastrophic deep sea drilling explosion and oil contamination on the Gulf in 2010 through the format of interviews. I listened to this with my 14yr old and he was riveted, it was well done. We were able to have a valuable conversation after on pros and cons, economic considerations, and more. It gave me another opportunity to preach on the complexity of political decisions and the importance of hearing things from multiple sides and not just follow anyone’s party line as they all contain faults and no plan can please everyone, but what better way to help most than to be sure as many sides are considered before decisions are made.

[Gil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spill
By Leigh Fondakowski
Narrated by: Elisa Bocanegra, Gilbert Glenn Brown, Nicholas Hormann, Travis Johns, Jane Kaczmarek, James Morrison, Darren Richardson, Kate Steele, Mark Jude Sullivan
Length: 1 hr and 39 mins
Performance
Publisher: L.A. Theatre Works

Let's get it out of the way:  This is another awesome performance/production from L.A. Theatre Works.   The audio performance puts you right in the middle of the action and the acting is of the high caliber expected.

Okay that's out of the way, we can talk specifics.

So recent history makes a big impact, I remember when the Deep Water Horizon sank and the days and days of video footage of that well leaking oil into the Gulf of Mexico back in 2010.  Every time you would turn on the news there was that video usually in the lower left corner of most 24 hour news services.  As a normal citizen I was constantly wondering how that area (specifically the Louisiana bayou) would ever recover.  I mean I love going to New Orleans for oysters, but fishing in the gulf was forever changed.  To this day, 10 years later, one can only imagine the oil at the bottom of the gulf and how it is affecting the wildlife.  But the environment wasn't all that was affected, people lost their lives in the initial fire on the drilling platform, and lifestyles of the people living in the area were forever changed as well.

This play portrays through the lives of those that experienced the event and even through television soundbites and even a speech from President Obama.   The script was written from media sources, court documents and the author's personal interviews.

The first act covers the events leading up to the tragic event then the second act the consequences come out.  Human tragedy written with some creative writing that makes the listener able to visualize the complete tragedy.

A great cast and very nice use of sources combined with the authors great sense of writing work together to nearly put you back in time re-experiencing this tragedy.

Publisher's Summary
In April of 2010, British Petroleum gave orders to speed up production on its colossal drilling rig, the Deepwater Horizon. Despite the objections of many on the rig, safety measures were ignored or overlooked. On April 20th, the Deepwater Horizon exploded. Eleven men paid the ultimate price and countless thousands who call the Gulf Coast home found their lives irrevocably altered.
Spill is part of our Relativity Series, presented with major funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, bridging science and the arts in the modern world.
Directed by Martin Jarvis.
An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast recording, starring:
Elisa Bocanegra as Arleen Weise, Andrea Fleytas
Gilbert Glenn Brown as Obama, Jorey Danos, Christopher Pleasant
Nicholas Hormann as Bob Bea, Pat O'Bryan, Gary Bartholemy, Wyman Wheeler
Travis Johns as Keith Jones, Steve Bertone, Jonathan Henderson
Jane Kaczmarek as Narrator, Lillian Miller,
James Morrison as Bill Anderson, Randy Ezell, Billy Nungesser
Darren Richardson as Tony Hayward, Jimmy Harrell, Gordon Jones, Don Vidrine
Kate Steele as Shelley Anderson, Jolene Danos
Mark Jude Sullivan as Jason Anderson, Mike Williams
Production Manager, Nikki Hyde. Music Supervisor, Ronn Lipkin. Associate Artistic Director, Anna Lyse Erikson. Editor, Julian Nicholson. Recording Engineer, Sound Designer and Mixer, Mark Holden for The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood.
©2018 Leigh Fondakowski (P)2018 L.A. Theatre Works

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I clearly remember when the Deepwater Horizon exploded, murdered ( yes murdered not just killed because hubris on the part of British Petroleum caused the deaths ) and devastated the Gulf of Mexico coastline. I consider myself relatively well- educated after 23 years of education, but I did not realize that the platform was floating on the sea and not attached to the sea bed... I found it very interesting that the name of the project was Mocando. In the narrative of One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez , the town grows from a tiny settlement with almost no contact with the outside world, to eventually become a large and thriving place, before a banana plantation is set up. The establishment of the banana plantation leads to Macondo's downfall, followed by a gigantic windstorm that wipes it from the map. The town grows and falls. This is a fine parable of pride and loss of investment in individual lives about Deepwater. Lovely play - listen if you can. Kristi & Abby Tabby

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom got a free copy of this LA Theatre Works audio play at a conference and, as usual, the production values were excellent.

The story was unexpected but gripping - excerpts from interviews with people involved with the Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 - families of those who died, workers on the rig, BP executives, and news reports as the disaster unfolded.

Combining all these stories together into one work is powerful and a great starting place for anyone wanting to know more. I now have lots of ideas for next steps in researching this disaster.

[Mary Havens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember when the Deepwater Horizon event occurred but, like most people, I felt bad but did not grasp the gravity of the situation. Well, definitely grasp it now!
Wow. Just spectacularly done. Definitely brought all the humanity to the 11 lives lost to this preventable tragedy.
It's so frustrating to hear stories like this but so necessary.
I'm assuming that Fondakowski consulted/wrote from the actual trial transcripts. That wasn't stated at the beginning or the end of the audio version of the play.
I'm still pissed and this happened 10 years ago. Ugh. So tragic.

[Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

A play turned audiobook telling first-hand accounts of the BP's Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010. The fast paced nature of the play reminded me of Come From Away, a musical I am a big fan of. The emotions came through incredibly well despite not watching this production and only hearing the voices of the actors.

Having listened to this show, I would absolutely go watch it. What an important moment in history to remember, and who better to tell the story than the survivors and the loved ones of those who perished.

[Tasnim · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's about the Deepwater Horizon tragedy. When we think of a tragedy like this the things that come to our mind are lives lost, the technical faults, lack of safety etc. A tragedy doesn't end there. The people who died were alive once. They had a life that involved other people too on it. This story through tellings of the guardians of the lost, the rescuers and other people involved it, had shed some light on the incident.

[Melissa Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more of a play then book -- but I really enjoyed it!! I live on the west coast of Florida - so I remember the BP spill & how it changed things all along the coast -- even affecting my business! This showed the side of the workers & family of those who lost their lives. Really interesting perspective!

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

LA Theater Works' audiobook version of this relays the events of April 20, 2010 from the perspective of survivors, spouses, lawyers, and key figures within BP. Sad and interesting, I thought the story was a good one to tell.

[Annasnova · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 2h audio play about the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Does a great job painting the circumstances before, during, and after the catastrophe. Enjoyed all the actors’ narration. Not very deep but fast-paced and easy to listen to despite the heavy subject.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

That this is a play may lessen some of the impact because you're only hearing the dialog, but the actors are riveting. It was a terrible, terrible event that I feel I have a greater appreciation for and knowledge of.

[Mrs. Schonour · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice, little synopsis that only takes 2 hours. It’s very well done and the sound effects are great. The theatre did a wonderful job telling this tragic story. It has inspired me to want to learn more.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want to know more about the BP Deepwater Horizon Tragedy of 2010, which is considered to be the largest marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry, listen to this. It's done by several actors in a play like format.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is actually an audio recording of a play about the BP oil disaster. Although very interesting, it would have been more interesting watching it. However,it was a good reminder of how we endanger lives for our fight for fossil fuels.

[Powder River Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a good short story based on the events in April of 2010 when the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded and the open well dumped more than 500 million gallons of oil into the Gulf Coast waters. The multi-cast narration was very well done as was the overall production.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy these LA Theatre Works productions. This was a really interesting production of Spill about the explosion of Deepwater Horizon. I would love to see the way this play would be staged, but I'm glad I got to experience it via audio.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am sure this is a better play than an audiobook. I honestly have not thought much about the spill for a long time, i forgot most of the specifics. This does a very good job of showing the side of the seasoned workers dealing with a never before seen disaster.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very emotional play. It shows the slides and how even in the face of overwhelming evidence people cling to what they already believe.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of the dialogue was specifically the "facts" of the case. It didn't sound natural.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good emotional and personal connections to the Deepwater Horizon spill, but ultimately this felt superficial and didn't move me to a deeper understanding or connection to the disaster.

[Bev(baglady) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of SYNC Audiobook summer series for YA. Excellent.

[Cathy Langille · Rating 3 out of 5]

AudioSync 2019

[Amy Fish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening production of the BP Oil spill in 2010. This would be great for a science class to listen to, only 2 hours long. There is some f-bombs in it.