Mike Pearson |
| BROOKES, PEARSON & THOMAS- Rain Dogs , CHAPTER ARTS CENTRE – CARDIFF , November 10, 2002 |
| The space is dimly lit; we notice two screens on the wall and two lecterns with lamps and microphones attached. Next to each stand, a monitor – screen facing upward. Pearson occasionally paces the room, Thomas smokes by the control board and Brookes is hunched over buttons, switches and dials. The three are ‘suited’ and tonight this uniform sits uneasy on them all. As the audience enters the grainy images seen on the monitor are of the performers and audience crossing the ‘stage’. They are being relayed by a camera trained on the centre of the room. This immediately defines the space and places the piece; the performers and us - the audience in the present, in the dark – in Cardiff. The piece begins as Mike Pearson approaches his microphone and begins to read. He and Ed Thomas alternate throughout speaking their own texts from their separate mic’s, each in turn stepping down and passing control of the space from one to the other. All the time Mike Brookes is visible in the shadows holding ultimate control of all we see and hear. One screen shows a face – male, close up, eyes closed, no words, white shirt, white background. The other screen is a constant – the streets of Cardiff rush by in the rain – in the dark, the image shifts in an out of focus, familiar streets, shops, houses bass by. The face of the man is replaced by another and another and another – 10 in all – close up, eyes closed. Occasionally we find each of them through CCTV eyes, placed in Cardiff - standing, sitting, being in the city. At Hayes Island, on Queen Street, where you were earlier today, or will be tomorrow. Pearson’s delivery is slow and purposeful. He speaks of the streets; he picks the grime from under the fingernails of the city (we think) we know so well. His descriptions are visceral, gruesome – automatically we transfer his words to the images we are watching, we try to picture where each event took place. Thomas’ words bring a lilting poetry and a hint black humor wrapped in sharp, language. His voice and his stories draw you, hypnotically, further on into the city. You want more and yet you already know what’s around the corner, grunts of recognition and understanding are audible from all corners of the audience. The men’s faces return to the screen one by one. They speak an extract we have already heard from Mike or Ed, the actors bring their histories to these words and at the same time the words take on another meaning, as they are spoken next to images of different streets, parks, factories… By the end of the piece we have heard stories, reports, descriptions, poems, conversations - all about this place. We have been allowed in, allowed to witness these images and words and to make our own meaning, personal not only to it’s creators but to each individual present. To me this stands as an exemplary piece of contemporary performance work, inspiring, thought provoking and ultimately engaging. The text is born of the city of Cardiff but it's quotidian themes have wider appeal. An intelligent, humorous, moving and insightful reflection of a city as it really is, at it’s worst and through this - at it’s very best. Film actors: Boyd Clack, Terry Dauncey, Russell Gomer, Richard Harrington, Paul Jeff, Richard Lynch, Richard Morgan, Islwyn Morris, John Rowley and James Tyson. Music: John Hardy and Stewart Lucas. Video: Cathy Boyce and Felix Power. CCTV footage: PC Brian Lowe. |
Reviewed by: Rachel Rogers |
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