The Wrap, by Taylor Mac, The Forum Theatre, Melbourne Festival, Sunday October 22nd 2017

The Wrap, by Taylor Mac, The Forum Theatre, Melbourne Festival, Sunday October 22nd 2017

"The Wrap"  by Taylor Mac was presented at the Forum Theatre for the Melbourne Festival for one night only on Sunday October 22nd 2017.

For those new to my blog I write about the holistic experience of attending the theatre. I buy my own tickets. So if you want a re-telling of the story please refer to the links for further information or for further insights.  Note, that I may provide different links for repeated main words or phrases.  I write for my memories of what I have seen, and it is more of a stream of consciousness.

"The Wrap"  by Taylor Mac was presented at the Forum Theatre for the Melbourne Festival for one night only on Sunday October 22nd 2017.

No programme was available for the event.

"The Wrap" by Taylor Mac was meant to be an event to close the Melbourne Festival and sadly was not up to the standard of the "The Inauguration".  We were expecting a party, celebration, and an event to be remembered.  We thought there would be the obligatory thanking of the Melbourne Festival staff and local artists. Yes this occurred but briefly so with no mention of Jonathon Holloway.

The show began at 7.10 pm and was over at 8.20 pm as he had a 12.30 or 12.45 am flight to Cambodia.   He basically apologised due to the mix up in the time thinking he was flying out a day later.  This is not good project management. 

There was a lack of atmosphere and the audience participation was negligible.  The nine straight men that came on stage and then "camped it up" was probably the most fun for the night.  The ceremonial funereal exit of the substitute Judy Garland received an enthusiastic reception as a lady was carried out to the foyer to Taylor Mac singing.

Prince's song "Purple Rain" received an enthusiastic response and looked scant with about thirty purple balloons thrown into the crowd.

The finale to Ted Nugent's song was supposed to be a final Prom night dance as we had been instructed at "The Inauguration".  Here the instructions were minimalist and the audience did not have the same level of cooperation or respect as per the Hamer Hall audience.  There it was a special event.  Here it felt forced and the talking of audience had to be shushed by Taylor Mac.  There was nothing special about this section, especially when there were quite a few people not dancing with anyone.  To add insult to the meaning of this finale some people danced with a person of the opposite sex rather than dancing with someone of the same sex.  It was a knife into the wounds to add insult to injury into the meaning and spirit of this finale.  Thankfully, we have great memories of "The Inauguration" and the sensational Prom night dance finale.

The preamble to the encore that we heard at "The Inauguration" was fun and engaging.  Here it felt as if he just wanted to get off the stage and make that flight.  This was understandable too.

There was a crowd surfing moment that was repeated in the finale encore to rapturous applause.

The Melbourne Festival Lounge upstairs at the Forum Theatre looks fabulous and has a wonderful ambiance with little nooks and crannies to make a small group cosy.  I wish this venue was open for this type of pre-show and post-show drinks as per the Campbell Bar at Grand Central Station in New York.

Many in the audience for "The Wrap" were using their mobile phones: texting or searching during the show.  Some took photos and video of the show.  As we stood up the very back of the theatre we could see a lot or rude people talking very loudly during the show and pre-occupied with their phones.  Why did they bother coming to the show? 

The show ran for seventy minutes which was twenty minutes shorter than scheduled. 

"The Wrap" obtained a 6/10 while my partner gave it a 4/10 as he was very disappointed.

The Inauguration, Taylor Mac, Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne for Melbourne Festival, Thursday October 5th 2017

The Inauguration, Taylor Mac, Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne for Melbourne Festival, Thursday October 5th 2017

"The Inauguration" by Taylor Mac was presented at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne for the Melbourne Festival for one night only on Thursday October 5th 2017.

For those new to my blog I write about the holistic experience of attending the theatre. I buy my own tickets. So if you want a re-telling of the story please refer to the links for further information or for further insights.  Note, that I may provide different links for repeated main words or phrases.  I write for my memories of what I have seen, and it is more of a stream of consciousness.

"The Inauguration" by Taylor Mac was presented at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne for the Melbourne Festival for one night only on Thursday October 5th 2017.

"The Inauguration" by Taylor Mac was an event that the audience will remember for the rest of their lives.  Where were you on October 5th 2017?

The foyers were abuzz with atmosphere that has been missing from many Melbourne Festivals.  This event had people anticipating something special - and were not disappointed.

Thank you Jonathon Holloway and the Melbourne Festival team for inviting Taylor Mac to our festival.  What an event!

The show started about ten minutes late which was to be expected with such crowds and lots of people catching up before the show.

We met Rupert and his lovely wife Jackie in the foyer.  They are fantastic ambassadors for the festival.  We met Donna from New Jersey who wore a colourful and sequined USA beret.  She was so happy to be in Melbourne and wore this special beret from a friend of the producers.

The theatre was electric before the show.  I have not been to a Melbourne Festival event in 31 years with such excitement before a show.

The band had taken their positions and Taylor Mac made his entrance to thunderous applause.  He welcomed us to the show and performed the pre-show announcements and allowed phone usage on the proviso: "I don't mind, as long as you are not texting all of the time!

Jonathon Holloway came out in an elaborate headdress that he announced was to be auctioned at the end of the show for a good cause.

Taylor Mac  warned us that he is a performance artist and we may be uncomfortable and challenged.  His audience participation was so clever.  The first time he came into the audience and took a lady up on stage who became his backing singing for a song.  We had to join in later.

We did the shaming of others and outing ourselves to the song "Gloria".  Then Taylor Mac took another lady on stage for the "Gloria" section and highlighted how uncomfortable it is to be the centre of attention while he sang from the front row. 

This extended into a long play section where people over fifty were asked to stand up.  Those over fifty had to dance, but not yet.  Then everyone else had to stand up and they had to select a person over fifty to copy their dance moves.  Wow such fun!  Sometimes people knew who was copying them and other times it was like a voyeur was copying someone.  What a fun dance party.

Another time he requested that all blond men stand up.  He selected three and rejected one from the stalls as he only needed three for the next uncomfortable segment.  One man was made to be the horse and the other two sat next to him on a bench wearing Nazi swastikas.  He wanted to make this section as ridiculous as he sang "The Surrey With the Fringe On Top" from "Oklahoma".  This was very clever; especially the interaction with the two blond men sitting next to him.  He even had someone cheep like a bird from the audience to quieten the bird with the lyrics: 'Hush little bird".  One of the men on stage right really got into it with his actions and even took off his glasses (probably to protect them).  The long hair blond (was announced as a "wanna-be" blond!) and was made to put his head on his shoulder according to the lyrics.

Taylor Mac  set up various sections of the audience with different vocal instructions.  One section of the audience became the babies, while the other sections became: children, father's cooking, wives's complaining, and the cousins.  This was a set up for us to feel the empathy for refugees and new arrivals to a new country.  At times there was a cacophony of sound.  I think this was done to Irving Berlin song "All Alone".

Nina Simone song "Mississippi Goddam" and spoke about how she could not sing but how she would express herself through her music.  He is the same as he brings out something special in the lyrics.  Every song is chosen for a reason.  It is our choice whether we like him or not.

Taylor Mac  introduced part of the finale as if a "prom night".  He asked if we have a "prom night" and received various mumbled responses from the audience.  He responded with gibberish and mumbles as well.   The final was like a "prom night" finale with lots of close and slow dancing.  This was a memorable and magical event.

Taylor Mac  announced his final three songs and an encore.  He even said that there is a black out and an exit and did not bother with them.  He just went straight into a beautiful encore of  Ted Nugent song as he got us to hug someone of the same sex.  I got to hug my partner.  Taylor Mac  suggested a third person could join in as there may be different groupings of people.  He was so aware of not leaving anyone out!  Taylor Mac demonstrated with a man from the front row the next phase was to be a closer hug - but no groping as his demo-man did to him.  My partner invited Jerry who sat in front of us to hug together.  It was very special because of the significance of the theme.  You could not leave anyone out - as everyone was to take this journey collectively.  I looked around and everyone in the audience was captivated by Taylor Mac.  If only the world was this happy!

Every song had meaning and purpose and was carefully selected for "The Inauguration".   Each song had a cultural significance with social change. This show was a teaser for his 24 hour marathon.  Oh this year's festival is a tease as there is so much material to try to see.  We are being spoiled for choice.  

Taylor Mac   is the personification of HOPE!

Taylor Mac  is a genius and "The Inauguration"  obtained a 9/10 from both my partner and I.  Sheer brilliance!