A taste of Black Light with a taste of mediocrity.

Well, we certainly have some common themes in our Black Light blog. Please don’t neglect reading your fellow theatre-goer’s posts and commenting. It is all part of the class and the experience. Only a few of you have commented on other posts. You have to comment on at least TWO.

My overall reaction to this particular show is one of disappointment. I was truly excited for everyone to experience this wonderful art form and I was greeted with a mediocre performance. I think the biggest downfall for this show was the story. Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass are great works for a Black Light piece. As I mentioned before, Black Light is unique in that the “tricks” often inform the story rather than the story dictating the tricks. Of course, that doesn’t mean the story should be neglected. That is what I felt happened at Ta Fantastika. There was certainly a plot, but it was far from clear. There were workable elements, but it never came together. I also thought they were limiting themselves with what can be done with the genre. The clown scene was interminable with a minor payoff with the pole bit. Perhaps the clowns were supposed to be Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee from the second book but, if so, where was the Walrus, etc.? Manny does have an interesting take on the potential intent and influence of this production. You should have already read it.

The nudity: I was only slightly surprised by the nude bit. It did seem a bit of a non sequitur, but was obviously a reference to the genesis of life that Alice was getting to experience. The other woman helped mimick the painting that was used as inspiration for this particular section. The Czechs (and others if you notice at the PQ) are far more comfortable with nudity. I am certain there was a little bit of tourist pleasing as the motivation for including the scene.

The hand orchestra was certainly the highlight for me, but I don’t think the show ever regained that level of excitement and awe. The choreography and speed of that part was thrilling. I enjoyed the giant Jewish guys and the menorrah bit (I am really into puppets and the candlelight staying put when she moved the menorrah was clever) but, like most of the scenes, it was rough getting there.

I actually expected the “majors” to see the performance and think about how the tricks can be used in conventional theatre (that is what I do). While I expected the “non-majors” to really be wanting more of a plot. I guess the through-line of the story was too weak to carry even the majors.

I encourage you to try to see another Black Light show. The one I saw four years ago was great, but they paid more attention to the story and new “tricks” were peppered throughout (rather than someone just floating and spinning every four minutes). I will try to see something else, and I’ll report back to you in hopes that you may see a genuinely good Black Light production. Ta Fantastika has a pretty good reputation, from what I understand. So, try not to judge them or the genre from one mediocre performance.

~ by Rob on June 22, 2007.