Animal Engine is a company led by two co-creative directors, Carrie Brown and Karim Muasher. The two energetically bounded the set, which was made up of two box crates, two microphones, and one very large blue and white flag, with a flash of military fanfare. A brilliant spotlight lit up the flag behind Brown and Muasher, who saluted in identical tracksuits, berets, socks, and sandals as they ushered the audience into a dystopian authoritarian world.

“The Mountains Did Quake, The Hillsides Did Tremble” is a story about life in a totalitarian regime. Two artists, posing as state sanctioned re-educators, are in charge of reforming the audience members, who have been identified as enemies of the state who have been sent to a correctional facility to answer to their crimes while learning to be loyal to their government. However, we learn that these re-educators have a different plan — to tell the ancient “Epic of Gilgamesh” as part of a larger revolution to liberate their fellow countrymen from the oppressive government under which they have all toiled for twenty years.

Animal Engine’s signature style comes through in their highly physical performance. They also make heavy use of a light and shadow screen to convey different scenes from the story of Gilgamesh. Brown and Muasher made sure to interact with the audience, including a humorous question and answer session. Also, there are several scenes in which they play characters who only communicate through physical movements and grunting. Although told with a comedic air and a wink and a nod, the grim undertone of the story reflects contemporary anxieties felt by many in America and around the world.

“The Mountains Did Quake, The Hillsides Did Tremble” was the first production from Animal Engine that I’ve ever seen, and I can see why they’ve developed such a reputation at Cincy Fringe. This show is clearly the product of the combined effort of people with incredible skill, experience, and vision. The performance sticks with you, leading you to contemplate the underlying message of the story they told long after you leave the theater.

“The Mountains Did Quake, The Hillsides Did Tremble” has remaining showtimes on June 6 at 7 p.m., June 7 at 8:30 p.m. and June 9 at 8:30 p.m.

Hilly Kenkel is a former vocal performance major and lifelong lover of music, political science nerd, podcast junkie, and Cincinnatian. She goes through sporadic periods of obsessive sourdough baking, weight lifting, distance running, and gardening.