Presented by São Paulo Showcase
Review by Hunter King
In an effort to understand the mindset of Rainer Maria Rilke, Ivo Müller has put on his shoes, embodying the poet in his Fringe debut One Million Words. The show itself is very existential, using Rilke’s poetry and letters as a basis for all of the writing, and often addressing a young person who is looking for guidance as an author. The show plays with lights and background noise as Rilke’s consciousness changes from subtle and philosophical to aggressive and skeptical with everything in between.
Müller is a natural performer, taking time out of the beginning of the show to address the context of why the show was created and naturally gathering the attention of the crowd. He has the charm that a storyteller should, capturing attention and not letting it go especially while talking directly to the audience directly. Within the show he manages to seamlessly move through emotions and understandings of the world surrounding him.
The show is clearly built for a philosophical audience, perhaps one in tune with the avant-garde. The nature of the show is not chronological or really even contextual. It requires the audience to think about their own worlds that they live in, observe Müller’s world and find the meaning that lies between them. For this reason, the show is not for everybody, and there are moments that certainly can start to feel slow if the connection between Müller’s world and your own is severed.
Despite any issues it may have with pacing or clarity, the show is certainly worth a watch just for Müller’s performance alone. It is clear that Müller not only understands Rilke, but that he does so on a fundamental empathetic level; he deepens the connection from that of the brain to that of the spirit, and to see such a deep connection is a treat.
If you’re feeling introspective or are seeking some wisdom for the way the world we live in works, One Million Words may be a great way to understand your inner self and find what you are searching for.
An Existential Treat
One Million Words runs Venue 23, Jack Dome at Pleasance Dome, 12:20
Running time – Sixty minutes
Review by Hunter King (contact@corrblimey.uk)
Hunter is a 2024 Master’s graduate of the University of Edinburgh and current doctoral candidate with a thesis focused on experimental theatre in Edinburgh. He has been a theatre practitioner for over a decade having worked in many capacities including as a director, actor, stage manager, front of house manager, and technician as well as others. Prior to moving to Edinburgh, Hunter was a high school English teacher in the United States. His passion for the written word as well as his passion for live performance are what motivated him to become a writer for this publication.
