Traverse Theatre,
Edinburgh
Four stars
In the post Sochi
Winter Olympics fall-out, it's clear that winning and losing are about
a lot more than medals. The Made in China company's hour-long
dissection of competition and the need for affirmation by coming out
on top may be an infinitely more intimate affair than the circuses
and bread of any international sporting event, but the end result is
the same hollow victory.
Christopher Brett
Bailey, Jess Latowicki and Ira Brand already have their names in
lights as they warm up with an opening lap of honour while dressed in
shorts, vest and dayglo wigs before things get too serious. Over
three rounds, the trio try to prove who's best via a series of tests
worthy of reality TV. These range from getting the audience to hurl
sweets at them so they can try and catch them, to seeing how many
marshmallows they can stuff into their mouths. Finally, the audience
are asked to vote on the perceived attributes of those onstage, until
there is a winner.
In terms of endurance
alone, the three performers are heroic, but by opening up their
private demons and insecurities in such a well choreographed fashion,
they deserve hugs as much as public plaudits. Because for all the
self-lacerating wit on show, it's what happens to the losers
inbetween each round that really counts in what becomes the cruellest
of confessionals. In this respect, Made in China have constructed a
wilfully singular indictment of a society in which survival of the
fittest is all, and where going for gold is always applauded, whether
you happen to be running scared or not.
The Herald, March 6th 2014
ends
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