Uncategorized: we were only waiting.

Some time ago, I posted about the lack of original and cutting edge theatre in Brisbane. With the soft, furry taste of a hat in my mouth, I left Zen Zen Zo’s interpretation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula on Saturday night pleasantly rebuked. Shivering, but rebuked. Set in the Old Museum of Brisbane, Zen Zen Zo’s latest performance, Dracula, is to die for. “It is the eve of St. George’s Day. Do you not know that to-night, when the clock strikes midnight, all the evil things in the world will have full sway? Do you know where you are going, and what you are going to?” She was in such evident distress that I tried to comfort her, but without effect. Finally, she went down on her knees and implored me not to go; at least to wait a day or two before starting”. So reads one of the early sentences in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the story of interpretation in Zen Zen Zo’s first performance in its studio season (meaning they allow themselves to explore and push the limits of their work – lucky viewers). The story of Dracula evokes notions of seduction, infidelity and horror, few can deny. So it was with baited breath that the crowd waited in cold darkness at 10:30pm for the start on Saturday night.

Entering their creation, the audience was immediately introduced to the trademark Zen Zen Zo style; actors directly engaging with audience members and directing them to their first of many promenade viewing positions. The stage was set; the eyes feasted on one, four, twelve characters who had adopted their opening lines and actions for the first act. And with a brave voice, Mina, one of the central characters began her story. Captivated for 45 minutes, the audience was treated to a 360 degree display of focused acting, dance, movement and music with the collaboration being as enthralling as any motion picture has been on screen. Upon the silence which followed the haunting last note being hit by the full ensemble, the audience applauded as one. With a special midnight performance at midnight on July 13th, this season is sure to be remembered by those lucky enough to have already purchased tickets.