Review by anonymous
June 12, 2013My overall impression
Not gonna lie. I went to see this show because I was already in LA for a different show, and a friend of a friend was in it. The name sounded cool, and I was intrigued as to what it was about. As soon as the performance began with a shaky tango, I knew was in for a long night. This show was trying to tell a modern version of Salome, but using the same text written by Oscar Wilde. It seemed like many of the actor’s were phoning it in the entire time. First off, I couldn’t even understand what HALF OF THEM WERE SAYING. Like the entire play. It seemed like a muffled mess of young actors screaming at each other. Also, with this modern re-telling there was the inclusion of a prostitute, who sings “call me maybe” and prances about the stage reciting monologues to the audience. And yes I mean reciting. It felt as though she wasn’t talking to us, and using her words to get us to feel a certain way, but rather that she was reciting her lines and talking at us. With that said though, there were some very nice moments from the Salome. She had some very nice moments in her final monologue to the prophet’s head.
Now I know this was only their preview, but there were so many issues like dark spots on stage, props and actors falling about, and wine spilling EVERYWHERE, it really seems like it wasn’t an ensemble working together, but rather a bunch of actor’s doing their own thing. But I dunno who’s fault that is, the actor’s or the director’s for not shaping it.
The last thing I have to say is that this show went at least 15 minutes over its time limit. I would honestly say there is so much fat in this show that can be trimmed. Long monologues can be cut down. Call me maybe could be cut because it was just a very very confusing moment. And the dances should be cut down. I loved the fact that there was dancing, but it wasn’t exciting dancing, and with exception to the veils dance it didn’t add to the show, and therefore it dragged on!
I would like to see this play again, if it was totally re-worked, with more clarity in what the writer/director was actually trying to say about it.
