One Brief Moment of Joy

What I liked

The interview before the event was a nice touch; setting expectations before a sandbox event is always a good idea. I was also sent a list of recommendations for things I might want to seek out, based on the interview; the list was fairly perceptive and I enjoyed the two things from the list that I pursued. I also liked the idea of streaming the show on Twitch, given that it wasn’t particularly accessible due to limited and pricy tickets.

What I didn't like

The premise of the show’s whole “vibe” appeared to be that nonstop movement and circulation=fun. The result was a strangely flighty, weightless experience. No sooner had I settled down at one station then I was being hustled out of the room somewhere else. No song being played was ever allowed to finish – the cast grew impatient and immediately skipped to something new, then moved on from the new song within thirty seconds to something newer. The appearance of activity seemed to be prioritized above all else, meaning that sometimes when everyone in the audience would gravitate toward an activity, that activity would be playfully smashed and replaced with “We must find out who stole the cake!” I understand the intent to explore the value of play and the value of openness, but – particularly with the compressed timeline, which gave us no room to breathe – it felt a bit facile. At times, it felt like a slightly strained and performative party full of strangers (which is 90% of parties in LA); other times it felt like reverting to the more uncomfortable parts of childhood, with adults trying to persuade you that you are having fun. Some of these problems might be ironed out if the show were longer and thus less frantically frenetic, but ultimately it won’t improve without some serious tonal re-evaluation.

My overall impression

While I appreciated a few promising moments, this show was definitely still in “early workshop” phase, not anywhere near ready for public consumption.