23/04/2021
Toast
Devised and performed by Zen Zen Zo
Reviewed by Ruth Agnew
Zen Zen Zo is an exciting addition to the Ōtautahi theatre scene. Combining the talents of several established , well-respected theatre practitioners and educators, Zen Zen Zo explores seemingly everyday experiences and their devised work asks the audience to do the same. The debut performance of Toast at The Theatre Royal raised many ideas about isolation, identification and indoctrination within a COVID tainted world, and will be further developed for a season in June.
“Let them eat toast... “ The distinctive sound of teeth crunching through crisp toast is evocative, but social conditioning alters emotional responses. Bread may be a source of comfort and sustenance for one person and the opposite for another. Bread is no longer a staple in some circles; white flour is poison, not comfort food. Healthy or hoax? The three performers draw upon their own experiences to explore the complex relationships we have with food, from a source of comfort to a catalyst for self-loathing.
The slurp and smack of another cafe customer’s enjoyment of a muffin incites homicidal urges in a woman who has chosen an oath, fiber rich, pleasure free snack. There is a sense of liberation in the release of pent up rage, and Mary Davidson’s emotional escalation is one of the most entertaining moments of the show.
“I’m at the fridge again , she’s at the fridge again ...” Oft-repeated thoughts become musical phrases, building into call and response audience singalong. This irreverent, playful treatment of potentially negative ideas relieves the tension and challenges our perception of a familiar isolation inner monologue.
The experiences and ideas explored will not be relatable for all audiences. Those of us whose body image and relationship with food involves disability, an empty fridge during lockdown and disordered eating are not represented here. This omission may be because the Zen Zen Zo team chose to share their own stories, rather than try speak for those whose hungry bellies would gratefully accept a gluten-free, refined-sugar free, fun-free muffin.
The set is simple and versatile; a folding screen is used cleverly to frame different perspectives and lenses. Frustratingly, the Gloucester Room seating was on the same level as the stage area, meaning poor sight lines for most of the audience. A space like Little Andromeda or Lyttleton Arts Factory would be much better suited to showcase this piece.
Zen Zen Zo’s Toast is a thought-provoking show that hints at many more valuable things to come from this thriving company. Their upcoming season at Little Andromeda will definitely be worth booking tickets early for, and I will definitely be returning to see the fabulous physical theatricality in a more fitting venue. So congratulations, Zen Zen Zo, on a toast-worthy show. Bottoms up!
