Matti is here as a part of "THE $#!T" Tickets available now! 

AUTOMATIC ORCHESTRA : JUST ADD MUSIC

This show was a challenge. As someone who loves surrealism and the basics of storytelling, they get a lot of things right, but the package as a whole and a lack of intention make this piece more chaotic than I would have liked. But on the whole there is a lot to like here and there are nuggets of greatness. 

The story has a very Mirrormask quality which I think is one of it's strongest points. When doing a surreal story you can take your time exploring the bare bone essentials of themes. What is the core of loneliness? Growing up? Anger? How can these things be presented? Interpretive dance is often made fun of, but to be fair, it is probably one of the few ways you can really dive into the core of how something makes you feel. 

I think the actors in this show are given a challenge. To present something and convey a story in silence. It's hard. And when doing this, an element of dance and movement is necessary to show a strong intention and a strong perspective. In order to effectively do that fully, you need music and practice- and that is where I feel this show faltered for me. 

The idea of the show is they present, and the audience makes the music around them using kazoos, drums, xylophones- etc. And with practice, and the right mix of instruments I think there's something to be said for that here. Unfortunately the performance I saw was non-stop chaotic noises which left everything feeling pointless, frustrating and left me with a literal headache. 

(I will also say this show did break the cardinal rule of theatre when a performer hit me with a sword while onstage - Please tell the actors to not lean too far into the seating next time!) 

This is experimental theatre for sure. I love the idea and think that with a bit more polish, the actors would get more time to shine and the orchestra leader would likely have more control over the mood and performance of the piece. Not every experiment is a roaring success, but I commend the bold risk and can absolutely see the potential here - but giving a bit more direction and purpose to the audience would go a long way for future productions.