Have you ever had that moment where you’re watching something and have no idea what’s going on and loved every minute of it? That perfectly explains what happened Saturday night when we saw the Bald Soprano. I don’t know if it just means I’m insane but I loved the play and I could totally relate to it. There is no doubt in my mind that I could be at a friend’s house and end up screaming random words and discussing the probability of a person being behind the door when you hear the door bell ring. *cluck*
Throughout the whole play I was trying to piece together the reasoning behind certain decisions. Like, why were there random sentences being played at the beginning? Why is the sky the floor? Why are there so many random awkward silences? Why is the stage set up the way it is? How could they not know they’re married…? Are they really arguing about this? Oh my god I love the maid! Why are they just screaming random phrases at each other?! Honestly, after the play I was like ok I laughed a lot but what was the point? *cluck*
The most pivotal part of the play was the moment where they said “The Bald Soprano.” I leaned forward and was thinking, here it is! You know this part is going to be important! They said the name of the play! This is the moment where all the craziness before will make sense…and then they started screaming the most irrational things accompanied by the most entertaining facial expressions.
“Cockatoo! Cockatoo! Cockatoo! AEIOU! AEIOU! AEIOU!” *cluck*
This is the point where I’m thinking this play can’t possibly have a point. But after reflecting on the play more and reading the Director’s note it began to make more sense…Ionesco is satirizing the English language! And I instantly thought of Joseph Heller’s Catch 22. Both the play and the novel illustrate the impotence of language. The argument about the door bell, the discussion of Bobby the husband, wife, cousin, aunt, sister, brother, the back and forth between Mr. and Mrs. Martin as they realize the reason they recognize each other is due to the fact that they’re spouses, etc. all show how lost you can get in language. *cluck*
How does it speak to a New York audience? I think the anarchy on stage reflects lots of the chaos you can find in New York streets and conversations. It also speaks to audience members like me who would enter a room and say “I’m Sherlock Holmes.” More importantly, I think it speaks a lot to New Yorkers who speak a different language. Because at the core behind Ionesco’s satire is the fact that he learned English as a second language. This idea instantly reminded me of dinner at the Afshinnekoos. Every now and then my parents might have heard a word in the news or read it in the paper and they ask me about it. Then the debate ensues. My parents make fun of the word they were asking about. Meanwhile, my brother and I make fun of Farsi and the strangeness of that language, like the fact that they have five different words that means ‘put’ and each has their own particular, specific use (-__-).
All in all, I thought the play was genius and the night was filled with confusion and a rush of different thoughts: there are so many old people in here, i hope this isn’t a snooze fest, why are they playing this, it’s just random sentences, oh look its starting, giggle giggle, OK this clock thing is getting on my nerves, how does she understand what he’s saying? He’s just clucking! She said WC instead of bathroom teehee, wait they’re all named Bobby? They’re all insane, giggle giggle, I love the maid! Giggle giggle, if they say what a coincidence one more time I’m going to scream, giggle giggle, red and white eye? really they didn’t know they were married, the maid is Sherlock Holmes! Awkward silence (accompanied with the awkward turtle hand motion), giggle giggle, this is hilarious, giggle giggle, really? The maid and the fireman? They said the name of the play! Did you see her face? Woah, that’s a lot of spit, wait why are the lights dimming, they just repeated the dialogue, wait its over? *Clapping* … 40 minutes later on the train ride home while reading the Director’s note…ohhhhhhhh! Heheh light bulb went on! ^_^
