HOLIDAY IN MY HEAD by Asylum Theatre

“If you liked it, please tell your friends…

Reviewer: Gan Soon Rui
Performance: 19 September 2014, 8pm

… But if you don’t, please tell your enemies.” announced the actor, Tim Garner at the end of the performance. Well now, isn’t this a dilemma.

Image courtesy of Asylum Theatre

The debut production by Asylum Theatre (a relatively new theatre company in Singapore), Holiday In My Head is a performance that consists of eight humourous short plays, all but one (i.e. The Joy of Solitude) are original ideas conceptualised by playwright and director Dean Lundquist.

Whimsical, nonsensical and sometimes outright dark, the production brings the audience into Lundquist’s head, as he muses upon seemingly random yet pertinent issues ranging from a clown with a fear of clowns, to a dialogue between two silverwares that feels abandoned with the increasing popularity of finger foods. Lundquist and his cast of six managed to lead the audience on a mini emotional rollercoaster, as they gasp during intense moments or laugh at the cleverly written humour, all the while leaving food for thought.

While the plays are stand-alone pieces, do watch out for Lundquist’s cheeky attempts to stitch the stories together, much to the amusement of the audience.

Considering the nature of the production, it would be very easy for the actors to drop the momentum of the performance during the many transitions. This reviewer is happy to report that the cast did not fail to deliver, as they skilfully captured and maintained the attention of the audience for the duration of the performance. In fact, props should be given, seeing as they also have to perform the roles of three different characters.

My only irk is with lighting designer, Keiran Burgess, and the decision to incorporate rapidly flashing lights into one of the scene. While I agree that it made the sequence extremely dramatic, it also had the side-effect of disorientating and distracting me from focusing on the scene. My slight headache aside, I give fair warning to those who might have photosensitive epilepsy, or are sensitive to intensive flickering of lights.

So, should I tell my friends or enemies about this production?

I guess I will just have to bury the hatchet.