Showing between Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th May 2009 @ Bristol Old Vic
Showing as part of Mayfest 2009, Bristol’s festival of contemporary theatre

On arrival, you are put in a wheelchair, tied-up and blindfolded; tonight you are completely at the mercy of the performance. Belgian theatre company Ontroerend Goed are dictating what you see, what you hear, what you smell, what you touch, what you experience – what you feel. It is a thin, risky line to walk but instead of feeling exposed and vulnerable, I became completely absorbed and lost in the experience. I could have been intimidated by my lack of control and very conscious of myself but instead got completely lost in the emotions around me and embraced the journey.

As I was slowly wheeled around in my chair, it initially felt like being on a surreal ghost-train. Around me there were strange, subtle sounds and smells - the crackle of a radio, the flicker of someone lighting a cigarette – then we would turn a corner and I’d be confronted with laughter, tears, love, intimidation, lust…

I tried to understand where I was going, what was happening to me but after a few minutes I just let myself get lost in it all. I lost track of time and space. It soon became like I was in a surreal dream and the line between reality and imagination was blurred and intertwined; happenings stirring deep memories and emotions within me.

Still blindfolded, and now in a hypnotised state, I was slowly coaxed out of my chair and laid down on a bed with a girl in my arms. She whispered questions in my ear - When was the last time I cried? Had I ever been in love? - and I responded honestly, passionately. Like a dream I coyly tested my surroundings by whispering my own questions back – Where were we? How do we know each other? – but I didn’t want to push the boundaries too much or risked the magic created being broken and I might have woken myself up.

The Smile Off Your Face is an intensely personal, spiritual and emotional journey and one that leaves you in a state of euphoric relaxation and like your senses, emotions and memories have all been completely cleansed. It took me 3 or 4 minutes to let myself go in the show and 2 or 3 hours afterwards to readjust to real life and real people.

Beautiful, touching and honest. This isn’t a show; it’s not a performance, that wouldn’t do it justice; this is an experience.

www.ontroerendgoed.be

www.mayfestbristol.co.uk

Matthew Whittle www.matthewwhittleblog.blogspot.com