Kick & Push – The Flick
A disclaimer to this piece – I witnessed Single Thread Theatre’s The Flick only in partiality. As 1 of 7 shows part of The Kick & Push Festival (on from July 19 to August 12 in the Downtown Kingston Area), The Flick cast and crew were in tech mode when I went – in the Roxy Theatre of the Screening Room. Even though I was only able to see the first act of the play, I think I’m able to discern a thought or two about the show from the first act.
A mundane comedy following three underpaid employees of a movie theatre in Massachusetts, this play essentially lives in its ruminating subtext and context; if nothing is happening in the lines, everything has to be happening between the lines. Much of the dialogue (written, not adlibbed) included “okay” and “cool” in what seemed to be a constant call-and-repeat between the characters. This leaves the audience thirsty for any indications of authenticity in the characters, which is then quenched by occurrences including Avery’s (Paul Smith) reveal of his attempted suicide and Rose’s (Cassidy Civiero) romantic advance on Avery. In order to get to these acts of authenticity, however, it seemed as though each character needed to be pushed to a brink of sorts – the circumstances of their specific situations made it so almost all of their walls were down, leaving on the brink of vulnerability. Therefore, they had no choice to but release that vulnerability in order to achieve inner equilibrium once again.
This idea showed in the first act, as I often found myself frustrated at the amount of small talk in which the characters felt compelled to engage with one another, even though the palpable awkwardness and tension that showed in the subtext of the lines was the very obvious elephant in the room. Obvious to everyone, and especially to the actors. Yet, when these moments of vulnerability appeared, I was taken aback and angered that the playwright didn’t further prepare me for that surprise reveal! Furthermore, the mirrored viewing experience – audiences sit directly under the projector witnessing the actors play in the seating aisles – really emphasizes the harsh reality that these characters, and us by extension, live. They are the ones who have to be inescapably present, cleaning up after movie patrons that left a mess
In this regard, it seems as though reality gets harsher as you get older, which is exemplified by Sam (Edward Charette) in the show. Likely due to the fact that he is a 35-year-old single man working an entry-level job alongside a university student, he comes visibly angry and bitter when he must attend his brother’s wedding or isn’t trusted to do something his younger counterpart was taught. The harsh realities of his life, his fault or not, have deflated any hope of living a life of authenticity, of special purpose. A foil to Sam, Avery is in obsessed pursuit of authenticity, as is evident in his protest to adopt to digital technology in filmmaking, claiming that digital technology strips film of its base for authenticity as an art form and visual medium. This sentiment goes beyond filmmaking, and echoes the plight of our modern living as most audience members will likely instinctively check their collective iPhones after the curtain call has ended and the house lights are turned back up.
However, please remember to turn your iPhone off as you sit to watch The Flick in the Roxy Theatre at the Screening Room as part of the Kick & Push Festival. This show runs from July 24 – 29. Click here for information on show times and ticketing.
Happy Kick & Push
