DRD and The Bug take a risk

The Bug Theatre and the Department of Redundancy Department (DRD) are currently exploring just how absurd a show can get. The original show Ten Buddhist Tales is now playing and it is indeed an experience. The plot (from what I can grasp of it) is about a bearded lady that enlists a Guru to come help expand on Buddhism for a modern and western society. Each “tale” is a deeper and deeper exploration into the randomness of the culture that we live in. The bulk of these tales had their modest beginnings during the monthly Freak Train program that has been gracing the Bug Stage for a long time now. Now, however, these short sketches get the full scale theatre treatment and come together for Ten Buddhist Tales.

The tales seemed to be inspired by Monty Python and the first couple sketches certainly have the Python feel. The train then derails completely into a chaotic giant mind-freak that is near impossible to explain. Just some of the images are: 4 grown men dancing around in adult diapers, a giant dancing tampon, a Buddhist Guru wearing a Platoon-style helmet and using a machine gun on a couple of 50s bobby soxers, a matrix-style fight, a cross dressing tango, and so much more. The tales are bloody, sexual, graphic, kinky, and twisted. However, mixed in to all the chaos is the occasional message about actual tenants of Buddhism, however just as those message start to come across – a giant dancing tampon crosses the stage (or something to that effect.)

So what is the point? Antoine Valot, one of the authors, explained it to me thusly, “That although we live in an absurd, meaningless, junk-filled culture, there is something real in Buddhism, there are real epiphanies and human connections to be found in life. And although sense cannot be made, it can be sensed. In that vein, I've tried to keep the show an experience more than an explanation, in the hopes that some truth comes out of one's own reactions to the junk and beauty, rather than from my personal judgments or pronouncements.”

Although sense cannot be made, it can be sensed."
 

The question then remains – is this show worth your consideration? I can honestly say that I don’t know. The absurdist humor wasn’t very funny, in my opinion, but if their intended goal was to keep the show as an experience and to defy explanation, well I think they succeeded admirably. Plus the set is perhaps one of the most impressive sets I’ve ever seen. It is a steam-punk-meets-Buddhism style set with several levels and so much to look at. The costumes, the makeup, and all the other effects were spared no expense. A lot went into this show. A lot of love and a lot of money. The actors and comedians certainly committed to it all, diving in head first and not looking back. I think that is certainly what is required of a piece like this. They all know what they are putting up on that stage, and they seem to be perfectly ready to accept whatever feedback they may get.  

steam-punk-meets-Buddhism"

In the end, I applaud both The Bug and DRD for taking this risk. This show will not appeal to the masses. It is very niche, and it took a lot of courage to write, produce, and perform this show. In a community where the same 10 shows tend to be performed over and over again, I welcome shows like this. Even though it wasn’t truly my taste, I encourage those of you that enjoy this type of humor and theatrical-experience to see this show. Support the Bug Theatre – a place where they let risk happen.