LITTLE HISTORIES OF THE LIFE ORDINARY
| |
In Defense of Not Getting It
If I say “Freddy Prince” and you think “Junior”, then it's a fair call that at some point in your life you've probably seen a rubber-clad Rachael Leigh Cook cavorting with a midget on stage.
|
|
The film was She's All That, and back in '99 it was all that, which basically meant it was unself-consciously stereotypical in the way only a pre-Not-Another teen movie could be. For all the token-isms of Laney Bloggs' performance however, the scene did illustrate one fundamental truth: theatre, especially the type that takes place in small dark rooms, can be really quite bizarre.
|
|
'Little Histories of the Life Ordinary' might be missing the rubber suit but it definitely does what it says on the pack: 'Like cheese eaten before bedtime'. Frankie and her pet snail Gonzalez are preparing to take a wormhole to outer space. They won't get hungry because the inside of the moon is actually made of cabbage. They'd better hurry though, because every little decision they make has consequences, like whether or not to put the cabbage in the fridge. Lost yet?
|
|
The common game with any theatrical performance that might be described as ‘contemporary’ is trying to pin down what the hell was that all about? It’s a tough thing as a viewer to not search for the epiphany, or want the soothing validation that we’re holding the thoughts we’ve been instructed to hold. Beyond stereotypes and clear-cut themes however there’s a lot to be said for vague and odd, weird even. Having no solid answers turns your attention to the galaxy of thoughts at the outer reaches of your head, and bypasses the need for cheese (or other paraphernalia) in order to pay them a visit.
Runaway Workshop are a talented young crew who have put together a cute, smart, and funny show to make you think. Think about what exactly, that’s not the point. But just to think. That (I think) is.
|
