I recently saw Martha Clarke's Garden of Earthly Delights at the Minetta Lane Theater. Inspired by the early sixteenth century triptych painting by Hieronymus Bosch, the play runs through scenes of the transition from heaven to hell with temptation, the seven deadly sins and nude body suits in between. I was instantly attracted to this play not only because this was the first time the production returned to its original NYC venue since 1984, but also because of my intrigue with Bosch's painting. Who wouldn't be curious of silver giraffes, pigs in habits and bare bodies gorging on fruit, communing with fantastical animals? With such strong religious symbolism the painting, in an exaggerated generalization, is simple: humans presented with lush planet; humans run amuck; humans left with dreary, fiery hell. Sound familiar? Let's hope not.

The play was both frightening and enchanting. The actors entered the stage on all fours while musicians (dressed as monks) welcomed the audience to an eerily bare stage - backs bent, long hair sweeping the floor, blank stares - creepy, to say the least. Bodies were then gracefully flung across the stage, as harnesses were employed to offer height and scale of vertical movement. There were no spoken words, just maniacal laughter and grunts of (dis)pleasure. I found myself with wide eyes and mouth agape many times during the production; human nature can be downright scary. Even with a stripped set, the actors were successful in conveying just how easy it is to destroy what you have when you don't take care of it.

Back to the painting. The middle panel, depicting the bountiful, imaginary paradise was chosen for the cover of Thomas Friedman's latest book, Hot, Flat and Crowded. Yes, humans have the power to blight beautiful places and expand their reach on earth's resources, and the author made that connection with his work. While Bosch's painting tells a three-tiered story, Friedman does something similar. He sees three issues with today's world: global warming, the rise of the middle class through globalization and the growing population. But, unlike Clarke's Garden, which left me stunted by the downward spiral of humanity, Friedman's writing acts as a springboard for better days.

He writes about price signals, pushes from the government, and the need for America to take the reigns of leading the green revolution to improve our current situation. I've read through the book and while there are (maybe too) many facts, ideas and conversations with experts, you get some of the overarching themes quickly: decrease our carbon emissions either through cap-and-trade or carbon tax; promote innovation for clean, renewable energy; overturn common practice of using dirty fuels by reshaping the market with a government that knows its time for change. Friedman even warns that the following five problems are only going to get worse: energy and natural resources supply & demand; petrodictatorship; climate change; energy poverty; and biodiversity loss.

Yikes. More increases in the price of fuel, food, numbers of floods and droughts, extinction? That's kind of like Bosch's depiction of hell, right?

So I have two recommendations to:

1. Go see Clarke's Garden if you're interested in 70 minutes of a haunt. It's been extended till March 1st!

2. Catch up on Friedman reading. Hot, Flat and Crowded is a hefty piece of work, but digestible in chapter-size bites. In the mood for a Q&A? Check out Sandy Johnson's interview with Friedman in OnEarth's latest issue: "E.T., Phone Home".

(Image: flickr / * Colleen *)