The fringe scene buzzes on one single stage as this showcase of new creative talent returns to London for its third season. Guillermo Nazara shares his views on last night’s performance, to let us know all the details about four separate plays dealing with the many forms of love and attraction.
I am a man of simple tastes. There had to be a reason why I liked you. Just kidding! I really don’t. Those are the words of grief and self-pity uttered by a tyrant on his deathbed (I think I’ve got away with it…). That’s how it all started, by bringing everything to an end. But that’s far from what the Reboot Festival currently stands, as last night marked the opening for the second installment of its 3rd annual edition – featuring three separate sets of original plays to be performed during its almost monthly run at the Barons Court.
All of them different – and yet, so similar. There’s a thread of theming connecting them altogether. Love, that powerful force that can possess us, guide us and even erase us from the earth. Its ways of infecting us are countless: the fears of commitment to a relationship, the uncertainty of going on a first date or the delusions of falling in love with ourselves (God, I’m so deep and clever).
The latter raises the case for The Dying Speech of a Living Legend, a dark comedy monologue dealing with the last reflections of an oppressive ruler, as his country revolts against his long-standing abuse. Written by Daniel Connelly with quite an amusing farcical style, the piece however fails at providing anything else than its own premise – as the character’s self-absorption prevents the story from going anywhere rather than back to the beginning: he doesn’t evolve (nor does the plot), but shows his same side one hundred times.
From there we jump into the 80s charm (to quote their clothing in a polite manner) through Siân Rowland’s Spark, a tale of two young sweethearts getting to know each other as they start dating. Exuding innocence and sincerity, the text manages to bring out some truth as to what first relationships (and our own single experiences with those) are, but all in all feels a bit too rushed as for what it’s trying to recount. Of course, time is not something pouring by the ton in this production, but such limitation should have been considered to focus on one single aspect that can be dealt with properly in around 20 minutes.
The third act is dominated by self-doubt and inner struggle through Katherine Vondy’s Road Trip, the story of a couple going on a journey around the country which will turn out to actually be a journey into their own hearts. Going through the concerns and hesitations of gone attraction, the play raises an interesting topic, but sadly doesn’t deliver it with much efficiency as the dialogue relies too much on absurd humour while overlooking the characters’ progression into what should be the focal point of the script.
The grand finale is provided by a banquet of lust, deception and unspoken revelations with Reagan Payne’s four-cast play Things Unsaid. Set on a night out at a restaurant, this hot plate of brutal honesty is served right to our tables as the pair (for one of them, a couple; for the other one, friends with benefits and maybe something else in the future), enter an argument about how they feel about each other. With more than a few funny moments and an insightful instrospection of our own insecurities, expectations and toxicity, the play brings a salty ending to the performance, despite its conclusion feeling a bit too preachy and taking much of one side instead of letting the narrative flow by itself.
With what’s undoubtedly a great display of pure new talent, the Reboot Festival has drawn out laughter, entertainment and a bit of soul-searching through a carousel of, in general, relatable accounts. Some fixes are required to make their value come to the surface, but their authors have scratched and dug in the right direction. Now it’s only a matter of reshaping until finding its right form. And when they do, it will be as solid as the intentions behind their plots.
The Reboot Festival continues at London’s Barons Court Theatre until 23 September. Tickets are available on the following link.