" And all the men and women merely players."
Last week I had the pleasure of going to The Drowned Man, an immersive theatre production by Punchdrunk, with my beau (J-) and his sister (E-). I had no idea what to expect.
We arrived at this old warehouse, checked in our bags in the timber cloakroom and joined the queue for admission. We were handed a slip of paper outlining a plot, a tragic love story which I assumed would be the plot of the play. The paper was black one side and white the other. I read one side and glanced at the other. I was partly right.
I was a touch overexcited about the whole thing (and I REALLY needed to wee) so as we queued I think I was a little annoying... I felt as if we were queuing for a roller coaster. E- had just stepped off a flight from Los Angeles and had been awake for two days straight so we made interesting (if slightly opposing) companions for J-.
Before long we were at the front. We were handed a white mask and ushered into a dark doorway. There was one man in front of me, who I was thankful for as we were in a twisting turning passageway and everything was almost pitch black. There was an almost deafening cacophony of discordant tones and the only light came from reddish-orange lights that were round the next corner -- if I had been leading I would have walked mask-first into the wall several times. Eventually we reached a room with a group of other masked people. To be honest, it was fucking scary; a group of faceless strangers all turning to look at you simultaneously? Urrgh. Even turning to J- and E- was freaky; you forgot so quickly about the masks. And you couldn't see any facial expressions, couldn't hear what anyone might be saying...there was no opportunity to crack a joke, pull a face, or find any other way to make light of your situation. It was very unsettling, and you could not make it otherwise.
After a welcome speech from (I think) one of the "owners" of the "film studio" we were at, we were told to make our way to the bar for the "wrap party" we were to attend. She then hauled open the heavy lift door, and out we blindly stumbled. I happened to be one of the first, wandering in the dark corridors, picking cryptic papers up off the floor and letting myself in to offices and various "behind the scenes" rooms.
I won't dictate everything I saw, as it's better to be surprised and I wouldn't want to ruin it for anyone who might read this before seeing it (not that anyone's reading this, but still). The audience wandered freely over 4 or 5 floors, in and out through film sets, props, dressing rooms....and occasionally you would stumble upon the characters themselves (or they would suddenly appear in the room with you) acting out various scenarios. The loud soundtrack wiped out any hope of hearing dialogue so you were forced to understand through their movements. Wonderful, confusing movements.
I saw a woman in a hag mask, another spiralling in a beautiful ballet on fake snow, a man scattering his clothes and raining sand on his naked body. I saw a heavily choreographed dance number, a drunken party, a human doodle and possibly a murder. What is "real" and what is "film"? And where did the audience fit in?
I love the immersive aspect, and I love the mystery...but I came away so unsatisfied. I wanted the whole plot. I didn't know I was supposed to follow the actors; I thought as much information could be gleaned from the sets. Once I got home I looked back at the black and white piece of paper, the one that I assumed had "the plot" on it. I remember seeing these characters, could put the bits I saw into the narrative....but who were the other characters? How did they fit in? Idly I turn the paper over. Another storyline. Different characters. A mirrored plotline. Although this solves some of my confusion (and mentally I kick myself HARD for missing it) there are still some characters left out...
I would recommend The Drowned Man, but I would advise you not to expect to "get it". You are an audience and, despite being given free reign of the internal workings of the entire set, you remain outside.
"Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything."
* Quote from William Shakespeare
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