3 Stars

***

Cutting the Cord belongs to the category of experimental theatre in which the fusion of words, music, movement and image creates particular moods. The introduction is unusual. The members of the audience are invited to look at the objects on the stage. Sachi Kimura from Japan, but resident in London for 9 years, makes her appearance.

She makes a few introductions which leads into a quiz. This reveals the theme of the play of being caught between two cultures. The audience now take to their seats. She plays scenes from her life, both humorous and poignant. The musical background provided by Daniel Marcus Clark using a variety of string and percussive instruments is an essential part of the whole experience.

Breaking away from the personal scenes, there is an interlude where she plays a hermit crab caught between a new home and her old home, a voiceover describing the dilemma. This effectively mirrors the main theme.

Sachi Kimura has a captivating stage presence. However, there were two flaws in the production. Her English is very good but she was not micked up. Occasionally the sound balance wasn’t quite right and her words were difficult to pick up over the music. Secondly, when she was playing her most moving scene she was at the furthest point on the stage away from the audience and again it was difficult to hear what she was saying. Possibly, being really close to the audience would have made the feelings she was expressing more intimate and much easier to follow.

The whole play is a product of much imagination but with a little bit of tweaking, it would have given a richer experience.

Reviewed by Ben

Underbelly Cowgate/Big Belly: 61a

4 to 27 August 2011 (not 15)

18.45 – 19.40

Fringe Programme Page Number: 253