Showing @ Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, until Mon 13 May
Almost one-fifth of the world’s population live in areas where water is physically sparse and a quarter suffer from shortages due to insufficient infrastructure. Water scarcity is one of the most worrying global problems of the 21st century. Îlo, by Belgian company ChaliWaté, addresses this soaring issue through mime, exploring the topic from both the perspective of a human and a thirsty desert plant. The play depicts the protagonists’ desperate struggle for survival, which can depend on a single drop of water. In their pursuit of the precious liquid they attempt deception and violence before realising only collaboration can save them.
Although ChaliWaté doesn’t specifically mark its work as children’s theatre, the slapstick humour of their mime finds greater appreciation with the younger audience. At times the physical language of the show tips over into pure acrobatics, replacing content with form and forcing the story into a standstill. For a show that eliminates all dialogue and hence has to work on a visual level, the design seems inexplicably neglected. The pale yellow disk representing the torrid desert sun stands in both aesthetic and narrative discrepancy to the customary flowerpot on stage. Although it’s clearly ChaliWaté’s intention to not be precise, it’s irritating to be unable to determine whether the action takes place in the desert or on a windowsill. It is similarly ambiguous whether the dramatis personae are plants or humans or indeed both simultaneously. The show goes beyond its objective to be surreal and becomes simply inconsequential. As soon as rules are established and an illusion created, it’s shattered – with all possibility for anticipation and emotional involvement gone with it. While it’s commendable to raise awareness of water scarcity and ChaliWaté’s approach is refreshing, the execution prevents the show from living up to its potential.
Showing as part of Imaginate Festival 2013
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