What begins more a Ted Talk about why D became a dominatrix turns on its head as she peels off the catsuit that is her protection from the world, revealing a surprising depth. Rating
Good
We talk about a show needing to find its audience. Glancing around the Lion & Unicorn Theatre before DOMINUS begins, it’s clear that the creative team fully understand who that is. Which is much to their credit as they deliver a show rather different to your normal Wednesday night at the theatre.
DOMINUS begins more a combination of a Ted Talk allied with stand-up comedy. D (writer Cat Gannon) explains why she became a dominatrix, each scene another entry on the list of reasons. It’s a mix of humour and utter gobsmacking disbelief as she talks about her clientele and their various kinks. But all is not as rosy in D’s world as she would have us believe, and as she continues her list, hints of what lies beneath slowly come to the surface until a final tonal shift hits hard.
As both writer and performer, Gannon is incredible. They dominate the stage in the same way they talk of dominating their clientele, handing out punishments and humiliation as if it were perfectly normal behaviour. And in a way it is, the kinks that many see as abnormal are here just part of a healthy lifestyle. Gannon’s audience work is equally as strong, using plenty of tricks to draw laughter as they gently tease (never truly humiliating) members of the front row, using them as foils to each described kink. The addition of a quick fist pump cleverly accompanied by the sound of a cash register as if the audience are paying for D’s services is a clever effect.
As funny and eye opening as that all is, it’s the later scenes that contain the real depth and emotional punch that makes DOMINUS a powerful experience. It’s here that the act is dropped to allow us to see the real person beneath the leather cat suit, and the hidden damage that they have been so carefully shielding from view until now.
The issues though are in the current presentation. There’s obviously a strong reason for the use of a microphone for the first part; it’s there to give D strength as her voice booms powerfully around the room. But it is also a distraction, leaving it feeling more a presentation than a theatrical performance, and making it difficult to fully embrace the character. This also means as the tone shifts so drastically later, it feels almost a different show. While it’s fine to have variation, here it risks not binding the two parts together strongly enough.
Then there is the use of projection. It’s used effectively to highlight each point of why she became a dominatrix, but additionally used as an inner voice, words showing doubt about that confident exterior. It’s just a little too much at times, the flashing messages pull us away from the performance, and at times the messages appear so briefly you don’t catch them all; a voice over may work more effectively? The projections act as a further distraction pulling you out of the story. Both microphone and projection are decisions that I would question.
DOMINUS is though an incredible writing debut from Gannon. It is confident and different enough that it’s no surprise to see such a diverse audience. It’s a show that has clearly understood who its audience is, so maybe a review from a middled aged white man really shouldn’t matter, I’m really not the target audience. But I can still appreciate the talent and creativity on display, shake my head in mild disbelief at some of the stories shared and feel for D as that final revelation hits home.
Written by: Cat Gannon
DIrected by: Avery McNeilly & Savannah Beckford
Produced by: Vivienne Melody Coupe, Maki Omori & Bence Blasko
Dragaturg by: Maki Omori
Movement Director: Kimi Thompson
Sound Design by: Balint Blasko
Lighting Design by: Shakur Jones
Technical Operations: Danny Turner
DOMINUS plays at the Lion & Unicorn Theatre until Saturday 30 May.
