Hissterier is a contemporary physical theatre piece blending dance, gender politics and spiralling obsession.
Entering the theatre, I was met by a shrine of cats – artworks of fluffy kittens amongst glittery frames. A stereotype of the “cat lady” brought to life.
As the lights dimmed and the show began, the audience was invited into the minds of our protagonists, performed by Amelia La Pira and Kailyn Tang.
The opening scene sets the tone perfectly, seeing a woman applying cosmetics to her face, which is revealed to be clown makeup. We then see both our performers progress through dances that make you question who is influencing these women.
This was highlighted when a narrator’s voice speaks to the women, asking them to perform movements faster and faster, almost like a distressing game of simon says. At times the performance was uncomfortable by design, with the audience witnessing the breakdown of these characters, unable to keep up with the demands of the narrator.
I was impressed by the expression of emotions by both Amelia and Kailyn, their faces moving from joy to deep sadness as the piece moved on. The story shined most when they were on stage together, dancing in unison.
It’s an unusual show with themes of mental health and gender roles, so I recommend scheduling some post-show discussion time with fellow audience members! It’s bound to invite many different interpretations.
Hissterier is on from Feb 3 to Feb 7 at the Blue Room Theatre.