What I liked
First off, I think the subject matter is very difficult to tackle and Janya handled it with grace and ease. To say this show was smart would be the understatement of the century. It was downright clever and criminally so. Also very sophisticated and witty. Some lines that really stood out to me:
—“You try doing the morally right thing within the biological wrong thing.” —“The shade of your blue when it’s spread would be different…” —“Tell me, am I allowed to remember what I’m choosing to forget?” —“Your nothing wouldn’t even have been a nothing.” —“We speak our dialogues simultaneously so that the both of us simultaneously get the last say before the bucket of energy empties.”I really liked the writing, and even more so, that the piece was ever-changing and always seemed to keep me on my toes and forced me to remain an active participant. Some moments were so subtle in their set-up that I never saw their pay-off’s coming. Really, really well done. It reminded me of Mel Brooks’ writing at his best. Chef’s Kiss
There was quite a lot to like about this show. It was really experimental and I really hope more people have a chance to see it. Hint Hint
What I didn't like
I thought the set design and the decor worked really well for this piece and the venue and set design made us feel trapped and confined, and also helped nurture a level of intimacy. This isn’t a critique so much as it is a suggestion. I can see this playing well on a bigger stage with a bigger void if you will. I would love to see the art pieces be built up and to take up more space too and to have different visible levels that can be played off of.
My overall impression
My very first thought was: Bold, bold, bold! It takes serious guts to do a show like this. Janya is mesmerizing to watch and she had me from beginning to end.
At first glance:
We begin with a slumped over Janya on a couch unassumingly peering into the abyss. Whirlpools of conflicting strands of yarn are strewn across the floor like transmutation circles, messy and beautifully complex—a chaos of artifacts scattered throughout the stage as if we’re witnessing the aftermath of a storm. As we try to make sense of this manifestation of the subconscious lay bare for everyone to see—it is this unique alchemy that draws us in and allows us to enter ’her world." And it is in this unique and special place where we learn who we are and what role we are about to play.
No spoilers, but this is a wild ride with quite a few surprises and I really hope she revisits this piece again in the future. It was definitely the highlight of my Fringe.
