Fringe theatre: unique and knowing no boundaries. Hidden in the corners of London’s theatre scene, Fringe theatre takes a little more digging to find.
On May 31st, I watched a jukebox musical called, “The Choir of Man.” Although, I don’t know if I would classify it as a musical, or more of a concert/talent show. It was interesting stepping into the theater because the set was an interactive pub, where audience members could grab a beer and chat with the cast before the production. This set the tone for what the next 90 minutes would be: friendly, upbeat interaction.
The show narrated the men’s lives inside the pub, detailing their struggles and characteristics. Interestingly enough, the characters were actually playing themselves and telling their own life stories. More importantly, this show celebrated London and the community of pub culture. There wasn’t necessarily a storyline.
I both liked and disliked the fact that it was a jukebox. Some of the songs were quite fun– like their ensemble rendition of “Escape (The Pina Colada Song),” but others just felt slightly out of place for me, like one of the men’s covers of “Chandelier,” by SIA, when narrating his struggles to find love as a gay man.
A common theme throughout the show was the men finding people to call onto stage and sing to. This was fun, but I found that the people they were calling up were entirely white, blonde middle-aged women. While this was entertaining, it made the intended audience for the show glaringly clear and wasn’t as appealing to others in the crowd.
All in all, it was a fun time, but I wouldn’t spend the money to see it again. If you’re in the mood for an upbeat concert, this is a good one, but if you are looking for something more emotionally/intellectually potent, “The Choir of Man,” is not the show for you.
Last night, we watched “Bluets,” as a group and although I planned to write my blog post on the previous Fringe show I saw, I can’t help but feel the need to talk about this one as well. Awaiting lights up, I was immediately curious about the production because of the stage setup. In front of a large blue screen lay three different TV monitors, cameras and tables. I had an inkling that film was going to be incorporated into this production and I was thrilled because I have never experienced that before.
“Bluets” is easily the most fascinating play I’ve ever seen. Adapted from Maggie Nelson’s 2009 book by the same name, this play tells the story of a woman, shattered by heartbreak after losing a romantic relationship and after a close friend gets in a dangerous car wreck. Plagued with depression, the woman becomes obsessed with the color blue– collecting blue things and seeking it everywhere she goes. Margaret Perry, playwright, and Katie Mitchell, director, brought this prose poetry to life on stage by exploring the narrator’s relationship to this color through 3 actors and film.
In a frenzy of complex design and technical elements, this show captures raw emotion on stage and translates it to a giant film screen in the form of live moviemaking.
Heartbreaking, disturbing, and captivating, this play manipulates several entertainment mediums to craft an expository piece of the psyche of a grief-stricken woman.
I think that this production requires multiple viewings, to take it all in. With live theatre and film happening cohesively, it is difficult to discern where to point your attention at times. I found myself confused about where to focus and got caught up in how they were making the parts work, rather than the substance of the poetry.
On to the next!
xoxo Gossip Girl
Theatre in London U of A 