THE ART OF FACING FEAR produced under the banner of the The Red Curtain International and Os Satyros, is an interactive theatre experience, performed by 25 artistes spread across five continents. It is a digital play designed specifically for the Zoom app, presented live bringing together a diverse pool of talent from Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, China, Cuba, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Korea, Nigeria, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, United Kingdom, USA, and Venezuela. The majority of the artists have never met physically, with all rehearsals and performances taking place online.
The play is set in a dystopian future with quarantine restrictions still in place after 5,555 days, exploring the interpretation of the world that might be. The cities have been abandoned, TV and newspapers have vanished but miraculously the internet still functions so they can stay in touch. They connect together online and talk about the issues which cause the feeling of fear, perplexity, and anxiety.
The actors talk about dissent, intolerance and extremism, the fear for the future of humankind, depression, and loneliness.
The play opens by inviting the audience to share their views and experience of what they Fear the most and the answers unfold and incorporate later in the show as the cast members talk about their own fears, merging the commonality of the universal human emotions.
The mood of the theme is set right in the beginning and it gives you a reminder of how not many have lived through this pandemic without having felt fearful about one thing or the other. The play is a mix of monologues, skits, poems, and dance performances. As you watch these actors talking about the issues we face each day, you feel relatable and get a glimpse of your perspective of these issues as well.
The play has an unusual treatment and execution, it takes some time to adjust to the setting and theme which changes at a fast pace from one segment to another. One might take time to get a hang of the nature of the play.
What stands out for this show is the diverse pool of talent performing together from across the world, the great coordination and timing between them. Each artist has their own unique costume and set up done in their own rooms, bringing the whole show together in a beautiful way with creative props, costumes, and accessories. The music and sound effects are aptly used and add a lot to the performances. The use of gfx, gimmicks, and simultaneous popping of frames in and out displayed the possibility of creative experiments which can be done with an online medium like zoom. The show establishes a common observation through different human experiences of people from different nationalities, races, and diverse backgrounds and leaves you with a sense of hope in the times we are living in.
The show is available to watch, free of cost on: https://www.theredcurtaininternational.org/
*Parul Rana is a theatre enthusiast and movie buff.
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