Overlooked at The Kick & Push Festival

They say perspective is everything, and in the case of Overlooked this couldn’t be more true.

I saw the play last week with The Kick & Push Festival here in Kingston from an extremely unique perspective – a back alley. No, there were no plush theatre seats, no lights, no microphones and not even a stage for that matter. The festival has gone above and beyond when it comes to creating theatre that is unique and fresh. The performance locations include intimate stage settings, historical towers and empty store fronts where the audience is engaged in the production (check out my last post “Beneath Our Feet at The Kick & Push Festival” for videos and more). You’re not just a spectator, you’re involved in the drama and often 3 feet away from the actors. This kind of intimacy allows you to become part of the story and relate to the experience on an individual level. What did the show mean to you? What do you think the message was? How does this depict something familiar in your life? These performances leave you wondering and pondering these kinds of questions.

The Hippest Alley in Kingston

As for Overlooked, before the show begins you’re guided out of the theatre and into a completely graffiti covered alleyway behind the building. The two actors waiting there look seemingly normal, they’re not clad with elaborate costumes or stage make-up. It’s hard to tell where the audience ends and the actors begin. Or as I quickly find out, where reality ends and the drama unfolds. The show begins at a moments notice, with the male lead counting some money he has been saving up for the upcoming Tragically Hip concert. He’s in the alley meeting a scalper to snag some great seats, but little does he know that his younger and slightly sneaky sister has tagged along. The actors are part of Refraction Theatre Collective (out of St. Catharines, Ontario) and have been working together on devising the show over the last 8 months. As part of their research, they’ve been speaking to locals and working with organizers to ‘Kingstonize’ the show as much as possible. As Kingston is actually, and in reality all abuzz about the approaching Tragically Hip show, (myself included, I’m wearing my favourite Hip shirt here) watching the actor played by Eduardo Dimartino count every penny in this alleyway didn’t at all feel like watching a performer. I felt like I was peeking into someone’s life and spying on their secret activities as together with the audience we followed the action from one spot to the next.

One Alley, Different Viewpoints

The characters are extremely dynamic and layered, which is evident even though the entire performance spans a quick 35 minutes. The male and female leads play an older brother and younger sister, both of which are struggling with change and conflict within their family. As a means of coping, Molly plays in her own imaginary world full of fantasy and evil beings that she must defeat on an epic quest. She convinces her brother to join her on this journey as the back alley art hilariously morphs into evil serpents and dragons in their imaginations, and your own. The two are eventually joined by a homeless woman who agrees to tag along on their fictional adventure. However, throughout their expedition they are plagued by memories of fonder times from their childhood, when things were simple and they weren’t aware of the complexities of life. The wandering woman they meet provides them with a glimpse into her reality, a life that requires resiliency in order to survive. The clash in viewpoints is a reminder to the audience about the importance of perspective. A dirty alleyway may be an escape for some, but a home for another. Our personal stories shape our attitudes from one day to the next, but sometimes a glimpse into someone else’s life is all we need to re-examine our own.

Don’t Overlook This Alley

The space provided an element of realism to the performance that was at times so distinct, I forgot I was watching a play. I wanted to reach out and learn more about these people, talk to them and see how I could help. As the actors work through their struggles, you reflect upon your own and how you as a person have learned to overcome them. We develop habits and depend on routines to move from one day to the next, but often only question them when faced with adversity. By immersing the viewers through the use of proximity and ‘street space’ the audience is provided with an unexpected opportunity to reflect and relate. Overlooked will invite you to explore your perspective and address the constructs we create our lives in order to feel normal and work through challenges.

The show is performed at least twice every day from July 27th – August 13th, 2016 behind the Grand Theatre so you’ve got no excuse not to see it! For performance dates and times and to snag great tickets for way less than seeing The Hip, head here.

If you can’t get enough of this summer theatre in Kingston either, check out my review of “Beneath Our Feet at The Kick & Push Festival”.

We all want to feel good and happy, but that’s different for everyone. Don’t overlook someone else’s perspective, allow it to shape your own.

Anna

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by The Kick and Push Festival. All photography, opinions, and comments are my own.