When Animals Dream of Sheep

Tonight I saw the opening show of When Animals Dream of Sheep. It is part of the fringe festival and is created by Stephen Bain's Winning Productions, involving Geof Gilson, Cat Ruka (who I haven't seen perform before) and Josh Rutter.


The performance was in Myers Park below St. Kevin's arcade. There was a pretty big turnout. The audience sat one side of the huge grass slope and the performance happened across the walkway. I thought the space was used really well. The slope opposite acted like this massive backdrop that doubled as a stage; there was also a smaller, more conventional stage in front with a 'cyc' for video projection. The trees were both obstacles (for viewing) and scenery.

It was great to see people in the surrounding apartments looking down, curious about what was happening. At one point a model helicopter was flown from the carpark above. I'm still trying to work out if this was part of the show or not. Kind of awkward.

I had really high expectations of this show (which is maybe not a great thing to have as an audience member, for any show (or really for life in general)). Because of the enormity of the space and the fact that it was outdoors, microphones were necessary. Personally I am not a fan of microphones in performance - they are unreliable and hugely distracting if they don't work properly. And voice is so much nicer to listen to. The sound was pretty crap at times. Particularly a shame because the first part consisted of a lot of dialogue (which I also felt didn't need to be as long as it was).


Highlights:

Watching the performers navigate the incredibly steep grassy slope.

Live music created by plastic drink bottles, strings laid across a styrofoam box, a guitar and a large drum.

Delightfully awkward verbal repetition ("The wolves are O.K. ... at this moment").

A chorus of long, black-skirted figures with massive deer antlers scaling along the fence at the top of the grass slope. With headlights on.

Watching Cat Ruka navigate her way, blindfolded, along a path of wooden slats laid out by the other performers and up the stairs. In glittery red sneaker shoes.

Josh Rutter giving a beautiful and somewhat effeminate performance in a violet floral dress and deer head. Beginning with walking slowly and steadily down the massive flight of stone stairs, hands open away from himself.

A very human, teenage soap-esque conversation between the three main performers. In deer heads. At a kitchen table sitting on slanted wooden slats across the stairs. Including deer-slurping eating and drinking noises.


There was a really, really great moment where two girls walked right through the middle of the performance space - somehow (at first) oblivious to the performance happening around them. The performers were all hiding behind trees calling out manic animal calls. The entire audience thought it was a great joke. The girls seemed extremely confused at first and then extremely embarrassed.

The more I think about this show, the more I like it. I think I will go again. You can see this show until the 27 February, 8.30pm each night, at Myer's Park. A $5 donation is recommended.

I recommend you go and watch.