Perceptions of what it means to be natural and normal are open to challenge in this series of vignettes coordinated by duo Thick & Tight.
The show ostensibly seeks to encourage diversity. Ironically its use of audio introductions before each piece – explained as an aid to those with visual impairment but going much further – serves to impose an authorial orthodoxy on every segment. Far from allowing for the “unexplained endings” as suggested in the preamble to Two Moths In Time, little is left to the audience to decide for themselves.
This is a shame because in most cases the pieces themselves don’t need the heavy spoon feeding: Donald Trump as an orange pantomime horse talking out of its arse isn’t an especially subtle rendition. Lesbian Seagull, featuring an Engelbert Humperdinck recording made famous by the Beavis and Butt-head Do America soundtrack is also pretty on the nose.
Daniel Hay-Gordon’s Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto in Recollection of Others is a more nuanced piece, and elegantly danced. It is a controlled and rewarding piece of ballet.
Baldwin’s Room by Azara Meghie is also bold and interesting, with strong production design.
It’s powerful narrative, emphasising James Baldwin’s words about a lack of love in the world, is however slightly undermined by being immediately followed by Flies On The Spaceship Wall, and an invitation to mock (if not quite hate) “Katy bloody Perry”.
- Natural Behaviour by Thick & Tight was at Norwich Theatre Playhouse on 23 May as part of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival.
