Created by Roger White, in collaboration with the team
Review by Eve Nugent
Obscure haze slowly fills the auditorium, ominous red lights rise, and an eery soundscape begins – the haunting atmosphere of Because You Never Asked is immediately established. Produced by Montréal-based company We All Fall Down, this show on the main stage at Summerhall is a bold re-telling of creator Roger White’s family history. Recorded conversations between himself and his grandmother, Marianna Clark, underscore the experimental performance, demonstrating a stunning archive of memory. Clark’s voice in interview, a woman born to a Jewish father living in Germany, is utterly captivating – a beautiful message about restoring the memory of our older generations is captured, approached with great sympathy in an attempt to understand our past.
The show opens with a sequence of beautiful yet erratic movement, perfectly choreographed by Helen Simard and performed with intensity by two of the four nameless characters, Émile de Vasconcelos-Taillefer and Maxine Segalowitz. Their remarkable physicality appears to embody memory and deep pain, enhancing the words of White and reflecting upon the darkness of our history. A harrowing monologue is subsequently delivered with deep emotion by Lina Namts, who then breaks out into similarly evocative dance. Lost stories and unheard voices are also exposed through heartbreaking letters, synchronised with more impressive movement by Marie Lévêque. Finally, a mysterious sequence using trench coats adds further to the tension on stage, appearing to represent an alarmingly dangerous authority.
This is overall an extremely poignant and topical show that offers a clear social comment on the terrifying rise of authoritarianism. What’s more, White offers a few touching words after the performance, urging the audience to be compassionate in a world with such a scary reality – he presses on the audience the power in simply questioning our elders, as you never know what the answers may be.
Extremely Poignant and Topical
Because You Never Asked runs at Summerhall – Main Hall
Running time: Sixty minutes without interval
Review by Eve Nugent (contact@corrblimey.uk)
An undergraduate French student at the University of Edinburgh, Eve has a diverse interest in theatre and performance. Her primary devotion is acting, predominantly at Bedlam Theatre with her fellow students, but also with French group ‘Les Escogriffes’ who perform annually at the French Institute of Scotland.
Her creative attention stretches also to classical music, as she enjoys playing the flute, piano and guitar. She thus looks forward to watching whatever the Fringe has to offer, irrespective of genre!
