 Can you imagine a life without smell? I believe
there are people living with this affliction. It is not just aroma, 80% of taste is perceived through the olfactory senses. If you
had had no sense of smell from a young age just how far would you go to
regain it?
Ethan
De'Ath is angry and alone, his relationship over, well how was he to know
the gas was on and the cat locked in, he did attempt to give it the kiss
of life but to no avail. Once again his life stinks, literally, as the
joker who could eat anything, he has been given things no normal person
would try!
In
the depth of his frustration he is given hope, an experimental
breakthrough in computer technology has made it possible for his nose to
be removed and a prosthesis put in its place. The linking of the
computer proboscis to his brain will let him smell and taste again. His
nose will be kept alive and viable by being grafted on to Gunter's
behind, Gunter being a giant pig.
We
see Ethan in the flat that is his new home for the duration of the
experiment and get to know him through his video diaries. His recordings
cover past, present and projected future. Once this hideous metal
contraption is grafted on, the myriad of scents and aromas assaulting
his system is overpowering. Will he embrace his new life, or long for
the old? And what will he do when Gunter is kidnapped.
This
one man play is cleverly written with both sensitivity and humour, I had
never before thought how bewildering it might be to be told, specimen
bag no142 is burnt toast, no84 varnish, no20 cut grass etc etc etc. How
would you really know this is so.
Alex
Dee as Ethan De'Ath is under scrutiny in several ways we see him perform
on the set but also watch his face on a large screen on the back wall as
he is filming his video diaries. When he is projected on the wall it is
difficult to say whether I looked more at his stage persona or
scrutinised his eyes on screen. I have always enjoyed sitting in the
front row, but seldom get the chance to observe the performers eyes as
closely. This led me into total admiration for Alex as his words, body
language and eyes were always giving off exactly the same messages at
the same time.
I
left full of admiration for the performer and writer to have been able
to cover this subject in such a way, I only wish I had seen it sooner
and had been able to publicise it more. So the flyer may have been a
little off putting but it just goes to show you shouldn’t judge a book
by its cover, a show by its flyer or a pig by its nose!
*****
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