Walking the Labyrinth
by Peter Cavell
Awakening in an unfamiliar place, the wanderer must find his way through the twisting Labyrinth and face the beast that waits at the centre. A dark, psychological re-imagining of the story of Theseus and the Minotaur, combining live and recorded speech, electronic vocal distortion, original music, and 2000-year old poetry.
June 22nd, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Brilliant, though very different from your average Fringe fare. Peter Cavell brings us through a labyrinth full of deceipt and confusion, and vividly depicts the dramatic meeting between Theseus and the Minotaur. Technically astounding, and with some really novel lighting effects. Take a break from the back-to-back comedies and enjoy a walk on the dark side with this show. You’ll be glad you did!
June 22nd, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Peter Cavell did not disappoint!
Walking the Labyrinth is not your typical fringe festival play, instead, it is a vivid journey to the discovery of duality that exists in human nature.
Using the gripping encounter of Theseus and the Minotaur, Cavell captivated our audience with his concentrated raw emotional power and commanding stage presence. ‘Fringers’ seeking more substance or thought-provoking fare, will be fascinated by Cavell’s creative use of sound, lighting effects and the marriage of an ancient myth and 2,000 year-old poetry.
I was completely engaged for the entire act and am certain that Walking the Labyrinth will remain my Ottawa Fringe Festival 2008 favourite.
June 24th, 2008 at 9:23 am
It didn’t grab me. I couldn’t make out many of the words amid the
electronic noise. I found myself watching the technology - the sounds,
the lighting, the wiring and buttons - instead of following the story
line. Perhaps this was supposed to be dark, dramatic, and important;
but, I wasn’t drawn in.
June 24th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
This original re-imagining is based on a Greek myth. Theseus, son of the King of Athens, set out to defeat a minotaur in a labyrinth, which was created by King Minos of Crete. What was really interesting about this production was the creative multimedia experience — altered voices and pre-recorded vocal music, poetry, dialog and effects — it added to the dark mystique of the show. Facing the unknown, facing darkness, and making choices is a common theme throughout. While some of the dialog was lost in the effects and the extreme low lighting was somewhat disconcerting at times, I thoroughly enjoyed this unique and creative production.
June 24th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
I really enjoyed this show, and am sad to see that some people (including the morons from the Citizen) just aren’t getting it. It’s ART, people. Cavell makes no bones about how experimental and abstract the show is, so any audience members who went into it expecting to turn off their brains and enjoy a simple diversion have only themselves to blame. And I have a feeling we weren’t *supposed* to be able to understand every single line of dialogue…after all, many lines were in other languages, so unless you speak ancient Greek, you won’t always understand what’s being said. To me, it was more about the *sound* of the dialogue, hearing the emotion and the meaning behind the words. But I suppose that’s asking a bit much of some people.
I highly recommend Walking the Labyrinth, but I realize it’s not for everyone. If you think you might not be up to the challenge, go to the cinema and see “The Love Guru” instead. However, if you want to experience something new and abstract, presented by a capable and creative performer, come see this show.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
A fascinating production. Very innovative in terms of its multimedia usage. Even the eerie glow from the laptop worked well with the mood and theme. While some of the sound levels and overlapping voices made it difficult to catch all of the monologues and voiceovers (sometimes to the point of distraction), it was overall a worthwhile experience. And a wonderful retelling/reimagining of Theseus and the Minotaur. Well done!