Bluets started out as fringe theatre and I can understand its quick rise here in London. The concept of this show is something I have quite literally not seen before nor ever thought of.
When you walk into the theatre and find your seat, you glance at the stage/set and it almost looks unfinished or like someone forgot to clear the stage before the show. There’s three stations of organized desks with various props on them. In front of them, three cameras (one at each station) and behind them, three tv screens. Then there was a big screen behind all of that. You weren’t sure where you should turn your attention to when the show begins.
Then, out come three actors and they each take their stations and house lights come down. This play was live tv. They were filming scenes in real time and editing them together in real time while speaking all of the written dialogue. It was unreal. So theatrical but also not? My mind was truly blown at the talent everyone in this cast and crew possessed.
Now let’s talk about the script itself. Blue is about a characters ‘obsession’ with the color blue, a metaphor for their constant battle with depression and various other mental health disorders. The language was unlike anything I’ve heard. All of the lines were so poetic and each word has so much intention behind it. You didn’t hear much back and forth spoken dialogue amongst characters, it was a story.
All in all, this was a beautiful experience and it deserves the fast recognition and praise that it has received. It was likely a big risk to start out as fringe theatre with such a nuanced ideal, but the minds behind it are reaping the benefits of hard work and dedication to a passion project.
Theatre in London U of A 