The review – Honesty in love and art, in love towards art?
Four people. Two pairs and their intertwined relationships full of love and infidelity. Art crossover. What is not enough, but what is too much? Is it allowed to play with the feelings of other people, just for our own needs, whatever they may be? Those are the main questions of the play from VŠMU in Bratislava. The story of Evelyn, who is slowly but surely beginning to change a quite shy and not that pretty Adam into a very desirable man, who would have never even thought about infidelity, or losing his yellow corduroy jacket. We enter a museum, where Evelyn meets Adam as a guard, and makes the decision that he is going to be her object.
All four performances are equal, and the protagonists seem to me just as I envisioned them when I read the abstract. Evelyn, pretty and ambitious, Adam, doubtful and tasteless, Jenny, fearful and Phil, just as straightforward as Evelyn, though he cannot stand her. The movement of all the heroes makes the story run swiftly forward, and the spectator does not feel the need to check their watch the whole ninety-five minutes, but at the same time, they will not experience anything new. The concept of the play is not feeling like an experiment, considering the context of the festival. The finale of the performance gives us two “surprising” endings – our agreement with the deed, or disagreement, where Evelyn’s arrogance brings up such an antipathy that very few people are on her side by the end. The production does not ask the spectator to use their imagination, so that they can leave the theatre (this year the computer screen) and think about the hidden meanings of the play till the end of the day. The fact is, that sometimes it is not bad to just sit down and flow with the story. But it raises a question, if it is not better to look at the text from a new perspective.
On the other hand, the scenography is the most spectacular aspect of the performance. It brings the spectator an unorthodox five-part division where each situation takes place. At the same time, it utilizes screen projection, the audience and “the bridge” over the stage, so the elements that greatly boost up the atmosphere. Though it is a pity that this year we have to be online, where we cannot enjoy the atmosphere to its full potential, thus it being not that prevalent for us at this moment.
My emotions from the performance are mixed. It is funny, it is current, it is thrilling, but it lacks a spark. It lacks a spark, which would keep me up at night and that is what I am looking for in a performance.
Zuzana Macourková (UPOL)