In 2010, American monologist Mike Daisey wrote a script called The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs, a gonzo journalism exposé of the working conditions at Foxconn’s factory in Shenzhen, China. Foxconn is the contractor that manufactures many of the modern technological devices used around the world, their client list including Apple. Daisey’s work was discredited when he was found to have embellished the truth, but new company Toyi-Toyi Theatre believe that his key points remain valid. Building from his work, Tarryn Runkel and Laura Hopwood have developed a dance presentation that brings Daisey’s message about the exploitation of Apple’s Chinese workers to a wider audience through a dynamic mixture of richly layered sound, compelling video images, and arrestingly performed dance and movement.
The overwhelming weakness of the show was the director’s contribution, as uneven development left the audience with a sensation of skits patched together rather than a unified whole. Some sections were delivered with clever interactions between dramatic presentation, dance and film clips, such as the ‘Steve Jobs speech’ and the live dance demonstration of Foxconn factory conditions in Shenzhen. Other parts were impressive for individual aspects, whether lovely dance moves or great music selection, though they failed to contribute to the key message. The intriguing ending was sweet, but there were several late moments that would have worked as stronger, memorable closing points, for example the activist missing a call on her iPhone.
The dance component of the show was impressive throughout, from Runkel’s attention-grabbing, energetic freestyle routine with Mac computer sculptures, and closely integrated simple movements with the factory workers, to a stylised fight scene and then a poignant and exhausting duet in a labour camp. The strength and skill of both performers was impressive, cleverly switching to ‘crap dancing’ with an amusingly executed Harlem Shake outbreak.
The audio-visual design was thoughtfully done, projected images and clips enhancing the message of the dance and spoken word segments. The images were not overwhelming, but complemented the moves and emotional states of the performers. Similarly, sound and lighting generally were at the right levels of intensity for the show throughout, even at points where it was unclear what the performers were aiming to achieve.
The Agony, the Ecstasy & i is powerfully thought-provoking, and rejoices in an original, intriguing and skilled delivery but suffers from uneven development, which detracts from its potential impact.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
The Agony, the Ecstasy & i
Presented by Toyi-Toyi Theatre
Original concept by Tarryn Runkel and Laura Hopwood
Director: Cara Phillips
Sound Designer: Tomas Ford
Set & Costume Designer: Tessa Darcey
Lighting Designer: Joe Lui
AV Designer: Emma Fishwick
Dramaturg: Bill McCluskey
Production Manager: Belinda Huggins
Videographer: Fionn Mulholland
Fight Choreographer: Andy Fraser
The Blue Room Theatre, Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge
16 April – 4 May
