Off-Off-Off-Broadway?
From the way it would seem, there are two very opposite poles when it comes to theatre in New York City. On one side of the spectrum you have big budget, grand-scale, over the top Broadway musicals. On the other, there are the small-scale, cramped, and often not-for-profit (or at least not outwardly) productions. As much as I would like to say “Tings Dey Happen” breaks the mold and stands firmly in the middle…I cannot.
By its very nature, “Tings Dey Happen” is bound to be categorized into the latter division. As a one-man-show it does not really have much of a choice. Unfortunately, the term off-off-off Broadway does not exist. However if it did, surely “Tings Dey Happen” would be a fine candidate for the label. Dark, down, dense: and that’s only the set; costumes too, technically; and the seating. The actor is dressed in black from head to toe. It’s fitting really: there can be no other conceivable way of simultaneously dressing over a dozen different characters at once.
“Tings Dey Happen” is set in Nigeria in the modern day. Oil politics is behind nearly every aspect of government and society in the country, as the actor would lead the audience to believe. It is not before long that we, Dan, have no choice but to except the harsh reality of the situation. What makes this production unique is the fourth wall dynamic, or rather lack thereof between the actor and the audience. The reason that we are Dan, despite the fact that the real Dan (Dan Hoyle) is right there on the stage, is because we are watching through Dan’s eyes. Dan is recreating his experiences in front of us and playing the role of every character he encountered on his actual journey to Nigeria. As a Fulbright Scholar, Hoyle was in an excellent position to learn as much as possible, and maybe even a little more than he wanted to. He came back, organized his memories and experiences into a script, threw in a little exaggeration for dramatic effect, no doubt, took a few artistic liberties perhaps, and so “Tings Dey Happen” was born. Though I have to say, in all likelihood, its birth had to be a cesarean section.
At just about ninety minutes, the show was too long. As entertaining as one enthusiastic, quick-witted, fast-tongued, and well animated actor can be, ninety straight, intermission-less minutes in a dim, dank, and diminutive space is a little bit too much. As easy as it is to be compelled by the first ten different voiceovers, it is just as easy to begin to feel irritated by the last three or four.
Dan Hoyle has put together an overall excellent production. No show is without flaws, and this one is no exception to the rule. However some shows are without any merit at all and it would be a terrible mistake to make the claim that “Tings Dey Happen” is one of them. Poignant and powerful, “Tings Dey Happen” is worth the time of any American who drives a car, takes up residence, or contributes to our oil economy in any way; if for nothing else, at least to see the other side of the story.