MacPhail Theatre, Ullapool, 7 March 2013

ALAN Greig Theatre and Grant Smeaton‘s Do You Nomi? –  a melange of theatre and dance – kicked off Ullapool Dance Festival 2013. And two lithe male bodies, sinuously and sensuously traversed a stark white set, immediately commanded the attention of an expectant audience.

ICONIC, avant garde pop artist Klaus Nomi died before his unique style reached the masses. But he did come to the attention of David Bowie and Iggy Pop, for whom he is said to have been an inspiration. This show tells the story of Nomi’s short lived career and his premature demise from AIDS in 1983.

Drew Taylor in Do You Nomi? (photo Paul Watt)

It is a powerful reminder that the theatre is a forum for stories and that these stories have many directions of travel. Beyond the narrative unfolding on stage is a collective response on the part of the onlookers. Last night’s Highland audience was taken to the very brink of what might be considered socially acceptable. We were given insight into the gay scene of 1980s New York, where outrageous personal reinvention and casual sex were the norm.

However, an all-pervading quality of truth and innocence underpinned all four performances, so any confrontation or collision of values was averted. Instead, a tangible current of expression and resonance flowed between stage and auditorium and the possibility for a quantum shift in attitudes was born.

At one point, two characters each declare the other to be a freak. To which the reply is, “yes, a freak among freaks.” However, skilled direction on the part of award winning director Grant Smeaton, took the story way beyond the realms of cliché to expose a powerfully pulsating humanity in the hearts of its protagonists.

The two actors, Laurie Brown and Drew Taylor, danced admirably. And dancers Darren Anderson and Jack Webb, appeared, in turn, to take to acting with ease. There were seamless shifts between speech and movement and some slick changes of tempo, facilitated by a rollicking soundtrack and deft lighting. These ensured that the spell cast in the opening scene held to the last.

During the re-enaction of a TV interview, things could so easily have become static, but supremely talented choreographer Alan Greig was not going to let that happen. As the dialogue progressed, the performers gracefully moved on and around their chairs adding a visual dimension to the conversation.

To create a piece of theatre that is groundbreaking on so many levels is admirable enough. However, to do it in such a way that the audience is unaware of the shifts of awareness and acceptance that it is undergoing, is truly astounding. Do You Nomi? is a creative collaboration, underpinned by immense skill and shot through with vitality and passion. Now this tour has ended, we should lobby for its return.

© Jenny McBain, 2013

Links

• Alan Greig Dance Theatre
• Grant Smeaton
• Ullapool Dance Festival