Friday 4 February 2011

I was Quarantine'd!

You may have seen the odd article about it, including this one with the usual picture. The Fringe Festival kicked off early with a 'play' set out on Somes Island. We were quarantined patents, back in the day, and we were to be treated to the practices of back in the day.

I was there, opening night, "packed ferry" and all (not in great weather), transferred over to Somes Island and made to walk up to the Quarantine station. There, we encountered other patients who were incarcerated before us. They told us of their tales of woe... however, it did not go easy for them. Telling their stories, confronting our presence, they were soon stuck down afresh with new sickness. And none of them wanted the Doctor to arrive...

This is "experience" drama, from the director Paul Stephanus, who likes to do things differently. In this case, instead of just going to a theatre and hearing tales of woe, we were transported to the appropriate location, which added another dimension of alienness to the play. And the subject matter wasn't exactly a piece of cake either, being stricken with diseases, and the treatment of the Doctor...

It was certainly different, although I didn't quite get the link between the disease and consumerism that the writer intended. I don't see many plays, but then there aren't many plays like this! Bizarre... and yet intriguing...

And sold out. If you haven't got tickets, you're missing out.

[END]

3 comments:

Foo said...

Damn, is every show sold out? I'm really keen to see this ever since I saw the poster last Friday in the Wellington library.



I know they added a few extra dates so maybe there is some chance?

Morgan Davie said...

Thanks for the writeup - was damn keen for this but sold out before we got to it.

Foo - yeah, they've got a couple more dates added. I am checking 'em shortly.

Jamas Enright said...

Three dates were added to end of Feb/begin of March... contact Downstage sooner than possible...

Was annoyed (after) that there was no reporter to note that I was there, dammit!