There is a bold and brave contemporary theatre movement currently emerging in Brussels, Belgium and Kate McIntosh has brought Dark Matter over the Atlantic to give Vancouver a taste of this new creative wave. She takes the audience with her as she attempts to navigate the boundaries of space, time and the universe. In fact, universes. In a sequined green dress, that perhaps signifies human life, she leads spectators through an exploration of her own thoughts, as they twist and bend, to make sense of human existence.
McIntosh is striking. Tall and beautiful, she grabs your attention immediately as she takes to the stage. Accompanying her are two gentlemen in grey suits. These are her conscious and sub-conscious minds. The rational and irrational parts of her brain. Sometimes they work together and help each other out, while at other times they compete for attention and come to blows. The tussle between the conscious and sub-conscious is shown in a novel and interesting way. This struggle drives McIntosh into chaotic frenzies in which she dances across the stage fighting with ropes, getting lost in smoke and physically bouncing off of her two minds. There is always a meaning to be derived from every action that McIntosh performs, and this derivation would vary strikingly from one person to the next. Yet every interpretation would not be wrong. This is the strength of Dark Matter. It presents a subject that has plagued even the simplest of minds at one time or another: what are we doing on this planet? The show physically pits space, time, thoughts and the human body, against each other. For a play to create a scenario that can have multiple meanings is a work of genius.
The entire show is performed against a black curtain, studded with lights, that represents the distant night sky. A smoke machine, used liberally, releases fogs that signify the magic of the unknown. The selection of props is endless. A science experiment performed by the sub-conscious mind, is a dream come true for the geek in all of us. There are black balloons, a plank of wood, colourful ping-pong balls sloshing around everywhere, and paper bags full of smoke or darkness. These props, or unique art installations, are random just like the universe they wish to represent.
Dark Matter is a complex fare and not for the light-hearted theatre-goer. It requires the audience to constantly overanalyse, which might be a welcoming thought to some but an annoying one to others. It breaks the traditional moulds of plot and narrative structure, and pretty much just floats from one thought point to another. McIntosh’s dialogue is poetic and fresh. Her words are sparse yet effective. The writing of the show is highly metaphorical. The first fifteen minutes of the play are wordless and the audience is left to find answers without any help. After McIntosh and her minds are done creating a beautiful chaos with the smoke machine, the wooden plank, the ping pong balls, paper bags and everything else, the audience is left thirsting for an explanation, which puts it in the same position as McIntosh who desperately yearns to solve the mystery of the universe. When she finally does take the microphone, the audience learns that this is not a show about answers but about questions.
The show embodies the true spirit of the PUSH Festival. It challenges traditional theatrical structures and ensures that the audience has a unique and thought-provoking experience. McIntosh and her minds give brilliant lyrical performances that stay with you long after the show.
Dark Matter is for those of us who have stared at the stars and wanted to wallow in their infinite mysteries. It hits that sweet celestial spot.
-Prachi Kamble
(Printed with the permission of Fame Blog Canada where it was initially published).