"Hataraku Watashi" (I Am a Worker), 2008. Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
Written and directed by Oriza Hirata, Hataraku Watashi, is a series of unconnected daily life scenes. The play is uncoventional not only robots are performing onstage along side human actors but the audience is led to believe through blocking and direction that the robots have real emotions and character. Hirata has the ability to completely carry out his director's vision without the possibility of human actor error. Timing of facial expressions and the delivery of the next line are completely controlled.
The Princess Club, 2007. Redmoon Theatre Group, Chicago, IL
The Princess Club is a best described as a "look what happens when...". The women move between the worlds of reality and fantasy. They fashion is extremely exaggerated but is believed by all who grace the stage. The plot revolve around fairy tales the women find in storage boxes that come from above. The stage become a playground and the actresses refer to each other as playmates instead of fellow actors. This play really struck me as experimental because of the exagerrated sense of fashion, the unrealistic sets and the fascinating storyline.
MEDEA, 2007, TANTOLOS Experimental Theatre Group, IRAN
TANTOLOS is a very inspiring experimental theatre group. These artist rehearsed for one year in secret for a single performance. This performance of Medea is unique in that it was performed in an actual desert and the performance contains no real dialogue or words and is based on the social conditions under which they are living. There performance was viewed by a select audience who were informed of the risk they were taking and the performance was followed by an exploration of the surrounding desert. They have an extreme focus on physical and vocal approach to theatre. This is still a developing company and recieve no support from their government. They wish to remain underground but wanted to share their work with those who live in free nations.
Twenty Four Hour Scalextric, 2009. Stan's Cafe Group, Birmingham, UK
This experiemental theatre group built a 400+ foot scalextric race track and raced cars on it for 24 hours straight. This production also included commentary through the entire production. This was meant to celebrate the absurdity in human behavior. I found this to be experiemental because audiences had the opportunity to participate in these races and there was no script. Two men served as commentators on the event. The entire production was based on the performance of toy cars.
Cankerblossom, 2010, Pig Iron Theatre Company, Philadelphia, PA
This production contains many elements not typically seen in theatre. The story begins with a married couple finding a flat baby. A cartoon, two dimensional baby. They begin to love this baby as their own. Then the baby gets taken away and the couple must enter the world of FlatWorld to get the baby back. They use cardboard puppets, stop motion animation, live music and video projections to create this world. The story as well as the creation of this world is experiemental. This play is anything but realism and the audience isn't expected to believe that there is a parallel flat world that exists.
Dream House, 2006, Phoenix Theatre, California
This show is interesting in that it deals with a solo actress who plays every role. Her character is a clown with the big red clown nose with an alter-ego problem. She calls upon her six sisters who are all named Elizabeth to help her build a fantasy world out of mirrors and PVC pipe. This show deals heavily with introspection and unique language.
Hustler, WI, 2006, Asteroid B612 Theater Company, NY, NY
Although most of the story is told from one character's perspective not all of it is. The story alternates between points of view. The show advertises itself as a spinoff of the movie Taxi Driver. They are trying to bring what was popular on film to the stage without doing an "adaptation".
Down There, 2010, Axis Company, NY, NY
Over a 3 month period a 16 year old child was tortured and eventually killed. This girl endured all the beatings not only by this family but from the neighborhood teenagers and struggled for her life everyday. This play is unique in that it examines a painful topic from both perspectives, victim and perpetrator. They examine questions like how a versatile group of people could interact normally in the world and come home everyday and torture a child or why didn't the girl just run away. It is a very pyschological look at this horrific topic.
Embers, 2009, Creation Production Company, NY, NY
Regarding Hot Air Balloons, 2011, Dixon Place, NY NY
