theatre review

Indians

The American High School Theatre Festival

'Indians' might be an interesting play, but I wouldn't know it from this production, which was confused and confusing. Arthur Kopit's script deals with Buffalo Bill, his Wild West Show and relationship with Native Americans; it's also billed as a Vietnam allegory, though you could be forgiven for missing that. The staging and direction was muddy and a lot of performers were simply difficult to follow, speaking at speed with poor enunciation. They tried to make things more interesting with masks and puppets, but should probably have focused on making meaning first. The show features depictions of several hammy performances Buffalo Bill was involved in, and it was telling that there was little difference between these and the rest of the show.

Rocket @ Demarco Roxy Art House, 10 - 15 Aug (not 11, 13), , times vary, £6.00 (£4.00), fpp 206

tw rating: 1/5

published: Aug-2008

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