Theatre / dickie beau
Review: iSHOWMANISM!, Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal Bath – ‘A spectacular piece of theatre’
You slip your fingers under the skin of an egg, peel it off its shell and eat it. When, in that process, is the egg most ‘egg’? When you mouth others’ words, who is speaking? How do we best connect – by seeing, or by listening?
Dickie Beau’s iSHOWMANISM! at Theatre Royal Bath’s Ustinov Studio is a muscular, theatrical will o’the wisp; an entrancing, engrossing, witty mind-journey through the big questions of being.
The show’s scaffold is performance and theatre – the ‘showman’ part of the title; but what it delivers is the shadow-side, an episode of ‘shamanism’, with deep thoughtful wisdoms about what it means to be human.
is needed now More than ever
Dickie Beau in iShOWMANISM! – photo: Sarah Ainslie
Why is it subtitled ‘a transubstantial pageant’? Transubstantiation is the transformation of Christ’s blood and body into bread and wine. It’s not accidental that the Studio smells of incense and that our expectations of form are constantly played with (an astronaut helmet larder; a tape recorder toaster; an orange tree bath) and all the time, the questions, “who’s there, who are you, who am I?” ricochet off the walls of this 100-minute glory, to confront us time and again.
Why is it called a ‘pageant’? A pageant is a procession of people in bright costume. Dickie Beau gives us just that, and he ‘never’ ‘speaks’ (I’ll explain my qualifications in a moment). Instead, through movement and clothing, he inhabits the bodies of recorded speakers – each one connected to the world of performance – in a looping procession of story.
He lip-syncs every word, with mannerisms and movements so utterly authentic (aided by impressive mic positioning) that I wondered more than once if he was an incredible impersonator. Eventually, we do hear his voice, but not through his mouth.
Photo: Sarah Ainslie
This is a one-man show that’s completely selfless. It’s about voice but Beau is voiceless. I won’t mention all the speakers we hear but each and every one is fascinating and fun. Fiona Shaw, Ian McKellen, Ram Dass and Steve Nallon are just a few.
As a bonus, Nallon, for instance, gives us glorious impersonations of Dame Maggie Smith and Kenneth Williams, so we have the treat of hearing Williams impersonated by Nallon, recorded by Beau, and then delivered to us through Beau’s mouthed mime (and now, it reaches you, through my typing and this screen).
This is a spectacular piece of theatre – more: it is a great slice of life. Transform your reading of this review into a ticket. It’s a feast for the eyes, a tickle for the soul, and a hug for the heart. Go.
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iSHOWMANISM! Is at the Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal Bath on November 11-December 10 at 7.30pm, with additional 2.30pm matinee shows on Thursday and Saturday. Tickets are available at www.theatreroyal.org.uk.
Main photo: Sarah Ainslie
Read more: Review: Footfalls and Rockaby, Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal Bath
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