the show must go on

I was enthusiastically getting some company to do some theatre-going some time ago. We got our tickets but soon I was forgetting about it till a few days before. I'm glad I did not procrastinate on going to the show. I went there, not knowing what to expect. It was supposed to be part of a dance festival but a controversial theatre show was what caught my eye. I didn't know if it was going to be like a musical, a play or something else. All I know is, it is my first time spending my penny on any arts festival, for the sake of catching art.

We found ourselves heading to a theatre studio for this particular one. 'Studio' reminds me of the spacious, long room we had for dancing classes. The crowd in the queue was a mass of foreigners and most look like dancers, choreographers and art students. We felt ousted for a short while. The show wasn't expecting a large audience in the venue but seats were quickly filled. No latecomers entertained. No intermission.

Honestly, I was more intrigued by the description of the choreographer, Jérôme Bel. And, it was that vivid impression I had in my mind that caught my attention of the man himself while he was heading for a seat at the back.

While seats were still filling in, what was presented in front of our eyes was complete darkness, so pitch black you couldn't really tell if there's anyone on the ground.

Before the show even began, there were banging noises coming from the back, it aroused my suspicion if it might be a surprise starting since the choreographer himself was sitting at the back.

After the official declaration for the show open, all lights were out and we found ourselves in complete darkness. It was not that unusual until you realised that the lights were not coming back.

The Show Must Go On
Jérôme Bel

Music is playing which signals to you this is not a technical error but an intentional part of the show. In the darkness, the lyrics of the song are forcing into your ears even if you aren’t paying attention to them. For 12 minutes, I am at times mindful if I am missing out some details even in the darkness. I see two blurry lights on the ceiling which I try to associate to the song which describes words of night. But I zoom in with my glasses later to find out they are just two tiny stage lights.

That is just the beginning of what Jerôme could do to you!

Some in the audience are giggling in the dark and some are whispering. Even I am starting to get impatient.

You see the AV man positioned right at the front before the first row. He is a distraction when you see and hear him switching discs every now and then. It strikes me how unprofessional he is as the AV man, if he is indeed one.

When the lights slowly return, I am as if questioning my vision ability as it comes back really slow and misty. The song "let the sunshine in" is blasting away.

The first act sees some 18 people on stage, clad in tee and jeans like normal folk. They walk out randomly, stop randomly in their places... like playing the game, 'Simon says'. Every single one looks like they are in a daze.

The music changes and when the words "let's dance"pop out in the song, these people are as though hypnotised. They start dancing heartily as if they are partying in a club.

The next one makes you unable to contain your laughter. Each of them is doing some quirky action that is repetitive for the whole of the song which sings "keep on moving moving". One guy is banging himself on the floor. Another one is shaking her bum. A girl is undressing and dressing herself. One guy keeps fiddling with his zip. One girl is slapping the curtains. One guy is swinging his tee like a madman. We can't help but to burst out laughing. You start wondering if you are watching "juste pour rire" because by this stage, Jérôme is as though warning you this is not your conventional art show. There is no need to hold back yourself. It's time to let your hair down.

As the tune "ballerina girl" comes on, what might be oblivious to the audience trigger even louder laughter but the guys of the group apparently dismiss themselves. So picture girls of all sorts; big, small, young and old... none of them appears to be professional ballet dancers. They are imitating the ballet dance moves, albeit without much success, it strikes to you on how ordinary people can have dreams.

When the next lyric moves to "dancer for money", even it is not an out-of-ordinary or creative move, the DJ or AV man suddenly rise from his seat and position himself on the stage. All we can see is his back. He is indulging in his own dance. At a point, he walk back to his seat and switch the spotlight on himself... in all, it looks like what the song is trying to say: a man who wanna make money from dancing.

Thereafter, we see the infamous dancing of macarena which may not be at all original but keeps you in the groove and reminisce about your very own macarena dance.

Then comes the scene when the people on the stage are walking randomly and hugging each other when "into my arms" is into its chorus. It is a delicate and beautiful hug, I must say. It is more like people falling into each other arms in seek of comfort.

What more can happen when you hear the tune of "My heart will go on"? There is a replay of the scene where Jack holds Rose by the waist at the helm of the ship. And control your laughter even if the couple are two guys or a guy holding to a heavy Rose, or Rose holding to Jack who is the one flying.

You are led on thinking what could be next, when a beam of yellow light seep through a corner of the stage, and "we are living on a yellow submarine" is playing in the background. This continues till the song switch to ‘la vie en rose’ when you find yourself literally basking in the red light.

Colours.

When darkness returns again to “imagine” by John Lennon. You know the trick. But that does not stop people from fidgeting in their seating and flashing their hand phones in the dark. One start and the rest follows. I wonder again if this is all part of the show.

While waiting the next song to bring back the lights, you see it's not going to happen when the next song is "sound of silence". The music volume is turned down after the word "silence" pop out in the song. The audience gets participative and all we hear is our own humming of the song till the next "silence".

Before you get tired of staring in the dark, the group return on stage and “I'll be watching you”starts playing. The light falls on the audience seats and the set of 18 moves to the front, staring at you – the audience. You feel like being watched and get a little uncomfortable and fidgety.

You can't wait till sexual healing - "get up get up get up, let's make love tonight" - begins playing and you wonder what's next. But the people are not making any move. Still standing, still staring at you till a courageous couple in the audience get up for a smooch. You wonder again if this is part of the show.

In "killing me softly", they are each tangling in slow movements till they all close their eyes and end up lying dead on the ground.

When you think the climax is over and you can guess better what is coming up, each of them came out with mp3 and discman, plugging in earphones. The DJ turns conductor and gives them a signal. What follows is like what can happen when you are singing in your own shower. Bursts of verses from the different songs they are listening to came in sequences, and sometimes in choruses... “I'm still standing” “I'm too sexy” “I've got the power” “We are the world. We are the children”

When the finale came, "the show must go on", they assemble and bow like all endings, only they did it again and again till the song finishes.

We had the privilege to listen to the man himself for what he have to say. Jérôme appeared to be a humourous and genuine guy just like this very production.

Jérôme brings down the level to the people at large, the fact that this show can be enjoyed by any and everyone. It is just that straightforward. Watch and not hold back.

Art is not just reserved for the sophisticated.

This is all about good humour.

His cast of 18 were not selected, according to the man himself, performance is not about skills but the desire to perform. He said anyone can perform and do this show. It is that simple.

In the show, he dropped hints and even hints that were not there to keep us in a maze of what is real and what is not. Our reactions are as though being manipulated in a social experiment. We are the performers in Jérôme's interpretation as our own expectations and reactions come into play. Every thing in the show; every sound, light, laughter, intentional or accidental seems to be part of the show.

He plays with the human weaknesses pretty well. Expectation; telling you that expectations don't always come true. You are your very own expectation. Imagination; playing your mind with what is real and what is not. Nostalgia; making it an experience you want to hold on to.

Watching this show is a very surreal and real experience.

It is worth the penny. Marvellous. I loved it!