After the events of September the 11th it was inevitable that this year’s Fringe would feature ridicule and satire of the event. Ridicule, after all, is the bread and butter of many of the performers in the Capital at this time of year. Conversely, there are also shows which explore the depths of ‘human experience’. Many of these shows are prone to pretension and embarrassing grandstanding. This is not the case with Project 9/11.
This is not to say that the show is an arty expression of human emotion, rather, it is a straightforward diagram of the human condition. The events of 9/11 are relayed by these young actors who are relying on their own experiences during the tragedy to convey a visceral picture of life during a tragedy.
The show features sparse, resonant monologues representing ‘victims’ of the attack simmering with shock and nowhere to spend it. The beauty of this show lies in the fact that it is so honest. The reviewer was expecting a lecture on the ills of the Taliban and victims sobbing etc. Instead, we are presented with a commendable, deep seated honesty about the human condition reacting to a historical tragedy.
The physical narrative is as well considered as the verbal, with the non-contact moments reinforcing the numbness of the situation. The maturity of the content is also exemplary as the narrative touches on ideas such as the perversity of wanting to preserve this historical moment and wanting to laugh about it and revel in it’s sickness. Everyone wants a claim on the most tragic moment in recent history.
To be fair, there are one or two times when you cringe at the theatrics, although this is greatly outweighed by the star turns of all the performers making this a sensitive, humane and intelligent interpretation of the greatest tragedy of the last decade.
4/5
Steven Carey
