A large, empty rectangular space with just 30 chairs around the perimeter for audience, this was what awaited the few of us who took the chance on an experimental piece of new writing called, 'Missed Calls'. There was no programme sadly, so I do not know who wrote this piece, nor do I know the name of the company presenting it. All that was given was the director, Bradley Shore, and his dynamic duo of performers for this piece, Kamila Pytel and Charlie Sloboda-Bolton.
The performance lasted approximately 45 minutes, and for the vast majority of this we were tasked into wearing headphones through which the voice messages from the girl were played onto the boy's answer machine. We also listened to her inner monologue too: her feelings, thoughts, aspirations, and the growing, all-consuming love she felt for him despite their differences. Whilst all this was happening, the duo onstage presented an interpretive dance. Physical theatre and movement more than actual ballet, but this strove to emulate and ameliorate the words we were hearing. Sometimes this worked superbly, and other times it seemed strangely at odds. The choreography though was interesting and intelligently thought-out. A sluggish and nonchalant reprise of the opening sequence happening when their relationship was falling apart for example; and moments when one seemed to be pushing and the other pulling. The main problem evidenced what that that rather than the narrative and the dancing being thought of as one, the simple act of having our ears blocked, taking away one of our senses to focus on just one thing whilst our other senses attended to the visual was a little disconnecting. If that was the intent then it worked, but I am not entirely convinced that that was what the director hoped for. .
The final section, after the couple had predictably split-up, was a predictable chance meeting some time afterwards, and their predictable conversation that ensued. This was shall we say in real time, with the actors speaking and the headphones discarded. There were no surprises in the text or the narrative drive, the only thing different here was the use of headphones.
Reviewer - Alastair Zyggu
on - 1.8.25
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