REVIEW | Indestructible, Omnibus Theatre
Paul Huntley-Thomas and Mary Rose in Indestructible. credit The Other Richard.Written by Russell
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review.
I normally like my reviews to come with a light-hearted approach.
But, I'll put all the light-heartedness to one side today and say Indestructible is quite a heavy duty piece, about some very serious subjects, interspersed with some lovely comic moments but at 1 hour and 45 minutes, it feels very long. But the questions asked here and the subjects touched upon will stay with me for a very long time.
Catherine Shaw was a Young British Artist back in the nineties and she shocked the art world with her provocative performance art. She now lives in a somewhat grim-looking attic and out of the blue is asked to curate a very exciting new show for emerging female artistic talent. She has always considered herself a feminist so this is right up her street!
Mary Rose plays Catherine, strongly supported by gallery owner/curator Christian (Danny Charles) and Art agent Robin (Paul Huntley-Thomas).
Indestructible contains some really strong writing and some very powerful subjects are touched upon, but just once or twice (deliberately or otherwise) it feels like a bit of a sixth year student’s online rant. However, the subject matters are so serious and it is such a broad look at how society treats women and female artists, that you have to sit back and seriously consider the depth and power of every point being made and this will take some time to process. Catherine at one point says “I’m tired, I’m tired of trying to play the system, I’m tired of trying to fight the system and I’m tired of feeling tired about it.” which is totally understandable when you see how she has been treated by those around her in the Art world.
Society has changed quite a lot since the nineties and yes obviously, there’s still a long way to go, but with #METOO and the emergence of excellent, world dominating female artists in every field of the performing and visual arts, there is progress being made. But as Catherine asks “When men behave in unacceptable ways, why do we always point to the women close to them and ask why they did nothing?”
It’s not all dark and provocative though. There’s a lovely fun game-show moment asking the audience to vote on if we can separate the artist from the art, which points the finger at Pablo Picasso, Michael Jackson and Kanye. Yes, yes, and a resounding no in that order. Although that might have a lot to do with the slightly ageing, middle-class mainly white theatre going audience here tonight.
There is a brilliantly funny scene on an imagined TV arts review show where Paul Huntley-Thomas's depiction of a pompous, pretentious art critic is so beautifully observed, it could almost become a show in its own right. Thank you Paul “Man-Ray, Man-Ray,Man-Ray” will also stay with me for a very long time!
Things take a dark turn and Catherine finds herself in the eye of a storm and again you have to ask yourself how the woman ends up being the guilty party.
There can’t be many shows that have references to Hitler, Lee Miller, Man Ray, Michael Jackson, Kanye and Taylor Swift currently playing anywhere in the free world. And with Hitler and Taylor Swift, I’ll be honest with you, I'm not a big fan of either of their work, but I can recognise the talent and impact that Swift has had on young women everywhere.
I don’t think Indestructible will ever be adapted into a sitcom for all the family, but the subjects raised and the questions asked here need careful consideration from anyone watching.
But it asks some very uncomfortable questions of the audience and society in general, and there are no conclusive answers, it also makes you think about your own responsibility and how you might act in certain situations that aren't maybe always as black and white as they appear.
I did feel genuinely impacted by some revelations at the end of the show, and the topics dealt with real and believable emotions. With clever use of AI-generated projections. Indestructible has a lot going on and a lot to consider.
A very brave piece of theatre which deserves a larger audience.
At Omnibus Theatre until 3 Feb.
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
