Kate’s Score:1.5 aliens
Upon exiting the Old 505 after seeing MARS: An Interplanetary Cabaret, a bright young millennial was heard to say “that was F+*%ing awesome”. Momentarily, I wondered if we had seen the same show but as we were all descending that rather intimidating cement set of stairs at the same time, I had to conclude that because it was the only exit to the only show on at that time, yes, we had.
Half audience were millennials and, I suspect, friends of the cast who chortled with laughter and glee at the antics on the stage. The other half of us sat stony faced. Therein lies a definition of the generation gap. Apparently three Martians (Men are from Mars) come to Earth in search of women. They are a metaphor for incels. They are foiled in their dastardly attempts by the female space cops Carol and Sophia. And that’s about it.
From the unintelligible outset (please, please, please, actors – work on your diction) we are bludgeoned with the notion of incels and their sense of privilege and then … well, nowhere really. Inspired by the “terrible sci-fi films of the 1960s” (publicity blurb) this cabaret – which owes more of its structure to a musical – does not go anywhere bravely where no-one has gone before. Indeed, many have gone there before and far more successfully. If you are going to play with this genre, the work needs to be clever and satirical and the voices need to be clear, strong and nicely pitched.
I had a millennial with me. She was not amused. But she did explain the Dragon Ball Z reference.
The band was very good, even if they did often drown out the singers.
Thank god there was wine.
Kate Stratford – On The Town.
