My overall impression
Charivari in Voyeurville demonstrates that the oldest tools in theater: dance, music, and masques, done well, still excite the senses and create visceral reactions.
It also demonstrates that given the slightest push of insight, it has the potential to be transformative. When that insight is missing or the point of view trying to have it both ways, the miss is more palpable.
Our society pushes folks towards marriage (and as a Gay man, was I surprised to find that at the head of our agenda) and laughs at folks in all stages of the process (engagement, marriage, divorce and widowhood) that stray. And folks that are interested in hedonism can be lonely during and after their beauty years. All of what we do wrecks human beings in tragic ways. Charivari dances and sings and stretches itself in gymnastic feats to make those points well.
The structure of the play, much like Canterbury Tales, is a series of tales about folks on all sides of those points. But the poems spoken by the characters and the lyrics sung by House of Rabbits with wonderful music, so bluntly state the moral of each tale, there is no room for our reflection or hope for any subtle, captured insight.
The choreographer and director create two vignettes that are so stark you may need to turn away as we did. See it. It will move you. It probably won’t make you think.
