Based on the Michael Pollan work by the same name, Prof. Natsu Onoda Power’s adaptation of The Omnivore’s Dilemma is a fresh take on a rotten food industry.

The two-hour experience–bookended by two on-stage portions and anchored by a middle third of interactive vignettes staged throughout the Davis Performing Arts Center–deftly illustrates issues ranging from the abuse of industrial cattle to the gas-guzzling habit of shipping out-of-season produce.

I’m generally wary of interactive theater; as a rule, the audience can’t act. But quality staging and spot-on comedic timing keeps the interactive portion from straining the dramatic tension.

“Meal of Fortune” is a hilarious illustration of the income disparities in access to quality, healthy food. The audience members draw tokens and a fascinating rally of human pinball ensues: kudos to Justine Underhill (COL ’11) for the roller skate acrobatics!

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