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Pros: At approximately 55 minutes the performance is mercifully brief. The highlight on this occasion was the building and the bar.
Cons: Incomprehensible and monotonous. For me this was a very poor show but I would be very interested to know how other audience members found the experience, if anyone would like to post comments below and provide further enlightenment.
Summary
Rating
Very Poor
Battersea Arts Centre is a vibrant hub of creativity and can be relied upon to host a wide variety of performances and events. The wonderful historic building alone is worth a visit and the centre runs activities for all ages alongside a lovely café/bar, so it’s a great local resource.
That said, I found Karaoke to be beyond comprehension. The stage has an inflatable palm tree and paddling pool on one side and the backdrop holds a large karaoke autocue which the two actors recite from or act upon its instructions. The performers – iara Solano Arana and Sammy Metcalfe – voiced their words like automatons, in a characterless, soporific manner. Background music was constant, pulsating and synthetic. The prose made little sense though it very occasionally managed to raise a gentle giggle from the audience. Clearly all this was intentional but to what end? And why was she wearing roller-skates?
It’s difficult to review something that I didn’t understand. Were there references to Big Brother? To a world becoming increasingly orchestrated by machines? Was it art for art’s sake? And was that the point? I have no idea. At the end, as the audience were preparing to leave, I listened out for snippets of conversation to find out what others thought; the young woman in front of me turned to her friend in delight and exclaimed that she had loved it. I’m afraid it was sadly all lost on me.
Created by: Sleepwalk Collective
Booking Until: 26th February 2014
Box Office: 020 7223 2223
Booking Link: https://www.bac.org.uk/bac/shows/kke
