Touchstone Theatre’s latest presentation is not one of their original productions, but it is a lively representation of the rituals of courtship and marriage.
Crazy Glue, based on a short story by Etgar Keret, was created and performed by Single Shoe Theatre Productions, the off-spring of Filipa Tomas and Bradley Wayne Smith in partnership with The Nursery Theatre, Blue Elephant Theatre, OvalHouse, Marine Theatre and The Pleasance Theatre with support from the National Lottery through Arts Council England. The show has toured in the UK, Germany and Bulgaria and is currently roaming the United States
Tomas, originally from Portugal, trained at the London International School of Performing Arts before co-founding Single Shoe. She also performs on a regular basis with Feeding The Fish, an international juggling and light performance act, whose credits include the London 2012 Paralympics Closing Ceremony and Cirque du Soleil.
Smith garnered his acting chops after graduating from The University of Iowa by accepting an acting apprenticeship with the Actors Theatre of Louisville, where he co-founded Theatre of a Thousand Juliets. Like Tomas, he attended LISPA in Actor-Created Theatre. He has also collaborated with the award-winning Glass-Eye Theatre, Concert Theatre and Beggars Belief.
The story starts with a couple meeting and getting to know each other through trial and error.
Eventually they marry and start a family.
The fun part is that there is no dialogue, as such. There is a lively 1930’s inspired soundtrack reveling in the mad, messy, sticky side of love as the two mime their way through life’s complexities, using vocal sound effects to propel the numerous scenarios.
Most times, you know what the scene is going to be about and others, you need to watch for bit to catch what is happening.
It was shown from the very beginning, as the two sat on orange boxes with a bigger orange box between them, they know what they are doing, although their characters are not always sure, as is life.
The only prop, besides using their box-seats, is a can of glue that is used sparingly but with great effect.
They both had absolute control of their facial maneuverings, as well as their fluid body movements and laugh-inducing vocalizations.
Lighting, designed by Catherine Webb, helped in determining time and space, such as the scene where the love-struck couple go for an underwater swim and the creatures they encounter. It was theater at its finest.
Unfortunately, the play, which took four years to develop with help from artists from seven different countries, only ran from October 6 through 9, but their future US destinations can be found at www.singleshoeproductions.com.