This wonderfully ridiculous and absurd show is perfect for those seeking light-relief from some of the heavier drama at the festival.
The script to this show doesn’t run particularly deep. Alex’s opening monologue establishes them clearly as unpleasant and distasteful as they contemplates ‘the stagnation of human existence.’ Though the final of scene of the show implies that some kind of realisation has taken place in them, there is little by means of a conclusion to confirm that their journey has been of meaning. Without much to compare the introduction with, we end up with an incomplete character arc. Despite this, a wild and magical adventure is created, whereby we never quite know what is going to happen next, or who is going to turn up. Changing the actor who played Alex in every scene innovatively builds on the sense of delving into the unknown.
The real strengths of the show, however, lie in its staging. A live guitarist perched next to the action evokes an edgy and authentic feel to the piece, even before discordance and scratching enters into the music. The shadow puppetry used to create the fantasy world is absolutely intriguing. The puppets themselves are fragile and delicate, showing true skill and creativity from the group. There didn’t appear to be any clumsiness or errors during the performance, even with so much going on at once behind the white screens. Everything was choreographed to a tee.
This wonderfully ridiculous and absurd show is perfect for those seeking light-relief from some of the heavier drama at the festival. As a bit of fun, it really works.
