Theatre
presented by A Donlan
The Velvet Lounge
25th of January
by Chantel Dyball

In the age of volatile, threatening pathogens and a pop culture obsessed with zombie apocalypse, fear comes in excess. This emotion was evoked in a two-part act consisting of Perth creatives, Kayla MacGillivray (CRT), Jim Maxwell, Rachel Foucar (CRT) and Daniel O’Brien.

Fear explored two terrifying situations, with each half stripping the viewer of a fundamental sensory tool; the first act was performed with the audience blindfolded. With the close quarters of The Velvet Lounge backing onto the raucous The Flying Scotsman pub, acoustics and comprehension (particularly whilst blindfolded and attempting to compensate for lost senses) were not favourable. As the first act unfolded, one struggled to catch audible lines of the performers against the booming and heady antics of punters celebrating the long weekend next door.

This difficult environment fed anxiety. Whilst also blindfolded and half-deaf, the slouchy shuffling of performers up and down the aisle increased the audience’s sense of dread.

The second act made for easier viewing, highlighting just how reliant we are upon all five senses. Set in the cramped staff room of a restaurant, the actors presented just how fearful one can get when you have no idea what is going on. Halfway through the act, a sinister muted silence fell.

The distress and alarming expressions of the actors fuelled growing anxiety over a situation the audience couldn’t entirely wrap their heads around. Silence was just as frightening as darkness.

Being highly avant-garde is a Fringe trait, however Fear did not deliver a shaken subconscious. After two acts to assail the senses, one can only agree, “everything will be [just] fine”.

Fear ends Saturday 31 January. You can find tickets here.