hairline.org.uk » Bobbi Carmichael

RAW

Bobbi Carmichael — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:20:58 +0000

RAW is set in 1990’s club land to a pounding techno soundtrack. We are welcomed ironically into the space in small groups by bouncers, forcing us to wait at intervals behind a rope as one might expect outside a club.
Our four characters enthusiastically queue up outside the club and once inside, strange rhythmic ritualistic dances are performed before a humorous Street Fighter/Matrix inspired catfight breaks out between the two females (flying high with the aid of harnesses) over a pole dancing male. Once this has subsided our attention is drawn to the other male clearly high- both literally and figuratively who is joined in his revelry by one of the females, both moving with awe and fluidity and skill in the rope web work at the front of the stage.
These are the high points as frankly the rest of the show consists mainly of bizarre unison dancing that lacks the balletic strength of line required to carry this off impressively and lots more leaping around on harnesses with little or no meaning once the themes of highs, lows, fights, come-downs and sex drives have been used up. The costumes are uninspiring, the soundtrack grates after a while and the performers themselves seem to perform frustratingly little Aerial to truly be entertaining, exciting to watch or indeed to show off their obvious talent. The decision to set four players (five including the DJ) in such a vast set-up, without any supporting cast, is a bad one and it’s a real shame as Aerial skills have the potential to lend themselves to the clubbing concept to outstanding effect. One for the more indulgent contemporary dance fan.

2/5

Super Situation

Bobbi Carmichael — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:50:11 +0000

Lois is your average everyday superhero- Extraordinary Girl, living her life as best she can since the “accident” that turned her, along with her team (Inconceivable Girl, Mr Amazing, The Wonderment and Fabulous Man) into a superhero.
The story unfolds in front of us taking place entirely in a living room set-up as it is a solo show, performed entirely in mime. It isn’t as strange as it sounds however as Lois’s clever use of sound effects and excellent, atmospheric and detailed voice-overs add extra dimension and inject lots of humour to the set-up as the scenes. When Lois is called away (generally when she is about to tuck into pizza, cake or a tv show) to do battle with Megalomaniac Man’s giant creatures wreaking havoc elsewhere in the world the use of these voice-overs as television interview/reporter footage (the house goes dark while they play) is fantastic.
Lois’ inventive use of props and impeccable timing to interact with the sound effects (she changes radio stations with her hand and irons in the same way) is ingenious and hilarious. The overall show is one of wit, irony and subtlety and whilst initially the choice to use no dialogue seems curious it is barely noticeable by the end as Lois expresses excellently the boredom, loneliness, frustration and rage that her character feels with gentle humour. Shorter attention spans may be lost with this show as until you are used to the house lights going out during Scene voice-over descriptions (video footage or power point images may have been preferable here) it can be difficult to focus on what is going on. Heroic and Original effort.

4/5

Geraldine Quinn – Hex and the City

Bobbi Carmichael — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:00:23 +0000

Geraldine Quinn is one angry woman- and with just cause. Voicing with vitriol the fears of certain women everywhere, hers is a backlash show against the embarrassing realisation that the most influential female-led piece of TV entertainment in recent popular culture is a show depicting modern women, despite being successful, attractive and intelligent in their own right, as wishing nothing more than a husband and 2.4 children as they are not truly fulfilled otherwise.
Geraldine herself is 35, single, child-free (child-less in her friends’ eyes) and what’s more: ginger to boot. Geraldine depicts herself as a modern pariah; a “witch” because of these symptoms, and thus the title of the show. Geraldine’s diatribe talks us through her persecution by way of facebook updates, all too familiar flat-share woes and other examples of her everyday life, all interjected with self-penned songs.
Her delivery is at times frenetic, at others hilarious. She is self-deprecating and very natural onstage. Her original songs have outstanding lyrics and often complex melodies and are definitely the strongest aspect of her performance here. At times however her show feels patchy with bizarre linking devices, an implausible catalyst and a slightly unsatisfying conclusion. At times her songs or rants can come across on the wrong side of bitter to be truly funny which is unfortunate as Geraldine Quinn is a gifted comic songstress. Her show will be off-putting and bitchy to some, but will appeal to women sick of dealing with friends with couples and will serve as a refreshing catharsis if you are questioning your situation in life at present. A brave attempt worth checking out.

3/5