This work suggests that in modern times of technology-driven anxiety, we should all be afraid of the Big Bad Wolf.
As two sets of bright yellow eyes peer out of the gloom, the audience is transported to a Brothers Grimm fairy tale forest, full of gnashing teeth and fear. They are transfixed, the tension mounts… And then it completely dissipates as the comedy element of the show begins. 'Inquisition' has it all. Exquisite dance, physical slap-stick, animal costumes, audience engagement, and some truly beautiful singing.
Indeed, at times, it seems to have a bit too much going on. After a slow start and a tangent about performance anxiety and the fear of answering your mobile that could have been edited down, this was an incredibly engaging, highly entertaining show. It was funny, you cared about the characters, and you marvelled at their bodies; watching their feet and torsos contort as they dance was captivating. This was modern dance at its finest.
However, looking back it was difficult to tell what the show was actually about. It began with one character explaining how this show was a culminating of his life's work, and how important it was to him that it go well. His frustration at his colleagues is palpable, and provides many of the first gags. But then, that story line falls away, and the female performer and her anxiety take centre stage. While the men remain in their original clothes, she has three costume changes into different animal onesies. The lady can perform better when she doesn't feel human.
The Big Bad Wolf in this piece is our society, our technology, our expectations and ourselves. Or, as the woman mused in voice over, perhaps it is liberation. Perhaps, when blowing in the three little piggies houses, he was in fact freeing them from the drudgery of mortgage repayments.
The performance was crafted in association with the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health, and support telephone numbers are distributed at the end of the show. Perhaps the disjointed nature of the show was to mirror the stressful nature of anxiety, or other mental health issues.
In the end, it didn't matter that there were some elements that could be further edited, or that it was difficult to make out a specific narrative bringing this eclectic performance together. The dancing was wonderful, the audience was laughing out loud, and there was a rainbow unicorn costume. It was thoroughly enjoyable. What more could you ask for?
