Tag Archives: audience

Blurred Lines – Carrie Cracknell

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blurred_lines_poster_1On 13 February I went to see the play Blurred Lines by Carrie Cracknell in The Shed, London.

Damn it!

Three feet under in a matter of seconds. Simple words, clear set, everyday clothing costumes, harassing lights, catchy beats and I’m stuck. I can’t escape. In one way or another you’ll recognize the performed. Question: question femininity. How not to put words in anyone’s mouth, but still trying to say the thought out loud? Dare!

In a fluent rhythmic motion the roles of the characters were passed on between the actresses telling us many sides of this story, the story of value. It hurts to see how easily emotions are swept of the table as a non-valid argument, how women get to hear over and over “get a grip, don’t be so hormonal!” and how the little constant things make you confused and doubtful on what choice to make.

It must have been frustrating as a man to watch this piece because it seems that they are pointed out as the big disruptors in women’s life’s, but a few minutes into the play it becomes very clear that it is not pointing a finger at man: It is pointing to everyone who takes it upon themselves to disrespect another human being, male or female.

blurred lines set photoANNE•Mind you, it still wasn’t a joyful piece to watch since there are so many mistakes made out in the world and they chose to show us a lot of them, but it was clear from the start of the piece, even the flyer, that what you see is what you get. Just before the piece ended it threw in a nice twist in which the audience got totally confused whether the play had finished or not. To every painful side there was a humorous side, and it was this contrast of strengths that made you watch till the very end.

set photo by ANNE•     Keep an eye out for this production and its creators!

Credible Likeable Superstar Role Model – Bryony Kimmings

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credible likeable superstar role modelOn Wednesday 16 October I went to see the performance Credible Likeable Superstar Role Model by Bryony Kimmings at SOHO theatre in London.

Sincere

After squeezing into our seats in the sold out theatre, we focus in on the young girl skipping about in a presized half circle on stage, created by the rope that her older opponent has attached to her. We are taken into the world of this nine year old tween, who is a big Jessie J fan. The girl and young woman, who look alike, start dancing to the song Domino of Jessie J in which the young woman completely loses herself to the beat. Here we see the first differences on interpreting the song and its meanings to the both of them. We start to wonder if it is appropriate for the nine year old.

Bryony and Taylor (Bryony’s actual niece) take turns talking to the audience of what they think about each other. Taylor tells about what she thinks about her aunty who is a dinosaur that drinks too much and is unhappy in love. Bryony talks about the journey she took over the last year by diving into her nieces world. Soon she found herself looking for other or new role models than the ones mass media presented her with. She calls her niece little deer and tries to protect her from the sinister grownup world by all means she knows: earplugs, fighting moves, gun use and when that doesn’t seem to help she pulls out her nieces eyes.

This is certainly not where the story ends, on the contrary! Taylor becomes Bryony’s manager in real life after they develope the character Catherine Bennet, who is the first new role model created by Taylor. It’s not before long that we find ourselfs dancing to their self made hit song Animal Kingdom. Could there still be a way to change this harsh indifferent world for young girls?

The identical costumes and set design (David Curtis Ring & Stephanie Turner) have a traditional and stereotyped look that serves, according to Bryony, to create a place of comfort and fun on stage for her niece. The idyllic surface of it becomes layered through the lighting (Marty Langthorne) and deafening music and sound scapes (Tom Parkinson). Bryony becomes more bare, vulnerable and disarmed by the minute, whereas Taylor keeps on growing rapidly into womanhood. When we come out of the theatre into the real world, we are left to wonder where do we go from here?

For information and dates click here
For trailer click here
For hit song click here