MARTIN DOCKERY: THE BIKE TRIP by Martin Dockery (Martin Dockery). At Tarragon Extraspace. July 8 at 2:30 pm, July 10 at 6:15 pm, July 13 at 5:30 pm, July 15 at 5:30 pm. See listing. Rating: NNNN
I last saw Martin Dockery back in January at Next Stage in his dramatic, heart-wrenching two-hander Moonlight After Midnight, but this show presents a very different side of this supremely talented performer: hilarious and uber-engaging solo storyteller.
Using only his charismatic stage presence, Dockery fills the otherwise empty space with the fascinating tale of his inspired effort to reenact a seminal moment in the history of science, medicine and drug culture the synthesis and first human trial of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann in 1943.
Hofmann famously gave himself a huge dose of the psychotropic substance and attempted to ride his bicycle home, and it is this trip in both respects that Dockery set out to replicate in 2008.
Combining drug advocacy, personal memoir, scientific history and laugh-out-loud absurd observations, Dockerys account, which also detours to other stories tangentially related to his project, is gripping from start to finish.
His wide-eyed intensity and comic timing ensures you hang off his every word. Do yourself a favour and take this trip.
