OFFENDING THE AUDIENCE
Factory Studio (125 Bathurst)
Rating: NNNN
Aug 13 at 7:30 pm, Aug 14 at 10 pm, Aug 15 at 7:45 pm, Aug 16 at 12:30 pm. 1-888-328-8384, summerworks.ca.
In his bold new production of Peter Handke’s infamous 1966 “anti-play,” Christian Lapointe uses video and synthetic voices to fascinating effect, shedding even more light on aesthetic theory, the idea of theatre and audience endurance.
At the performance I attended, some people were so restless that they took selfies and checked their phones throughout the show. One idiot in the front row talked on his phone and left the theatre, only to return with some takeout sushi.
All of which indirectly commented on the idea of what we expect at the theatre. Technically brilliant, meditative and invigorating, this is a must-see for anyone interested in performance.
