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Prowling the internet jungleMe at
the zoo
Birmingham Rep Door
****
ME at the zoo is a debut play by writer
Grace Barrington, alumnae of Birmingham REP’s youth theatre.
Performed also by members of the youth theatre,
it takes its title from the first video to be uploaded to YouTube and
explores the destructive effects of social media websites in today’s
world.
In a generation who have grown up in a world
where social media encases their everyday lives. The young and talented
performers bring an enthusiasm heightened by their experience within
social media.
In Barrington’s topical and thought-provoking
piece, Me At The Zoo is a reflection of the power of social media
networking today. Barrington and the Young REP create an interesting,
current and powerful opinion to the way in which social media is shaped.
Tom Mansfield is the director and it is clear
through their performance that he has given the cast the confidence to
excel and enjoy the process of performing within The Door.
The company consists of five young actors and in
every performer, their confidence on stage shines through thanks to
their outstanding display of professionalism for such a young company.
In the online world, everyone has the chance to
be the person they want to be. Barrington’s script sets the foundations
for a great show which reflects this notion. Her solid and clever plot
is full of surprises and pays close attention to the intricacies of each
character. Throughout the play, it is clear to see that each performer
has a great understanding for the depth of their character and the
crossover between their reality and the online lives they lead.
Most of the play is set in an online world, where
friendship’s and bonds are made over screen. Mansfield does well in
creating the difference between real life and the life when the
characters are online. Stood under square spotlights, an allusion to the
screens they sit and face, actors deliver the dialogue out to the
audience as they talk to each other. We see they are physically alone,
but united in the collective online networks.
Charlie Bottle seems to be the only person living
in the ‘real world’ and desperately wants his peers to see the negatives
of social media. In secret, he creates a fake competition to establish a
new ‘super’ social network, hoping that his best friend Amy will see his
point of view.
Each performer represents a social networking
platform. In this production we see Twitter, Tumblr and YouTube. The
talent and individualism seen via every actor is fantastic to see and is
also a testament to Barrington’s superb creation of believable and
well-rounded characters.
Away from the online worlds that have such an
influence over the young characters’ lives, we see snippets of their
‘real’ life problems and the reason why they rely on the popularity that
social media gives them.
Tumblr Girl has a poisonous relationship with her
mother and relies on her online followers to give her the confidence and
sense of hope that she cannot find in reality.
Youtube Boy lives with his sickly grandma and
finds that online blogging is the only way to release from the pressures
of caring for her.
Twitter Girl has a need to bring people together
through romantic hopes and start relationships in the online world.
Troll Boy represents every negative comment and
fiery debate started online by anonymous users. A screen bully who is
bullied by his alcoholic mother, Troll Boy gives a fascinating
reflection of the darkness of freedom of speech in an online world.
Charlie, who has no desire to participate in the
fake cyber world, has a plan to tell each person what happens online can
also affect reality. Charlie thinks that there will be no consequences
of his secret plan, but by the end of the play we find out the cruelness
of his actions.
It is a strong production and something that
Barrington should be proud of creating. It is innovative and extremely
current and represents the viewpoints of all of us.
Although the pace was slow in some scenes, this
was allowed for as the intricate and heavy plot was handled in an
extremely skillful manner. The talent was strong and it would hardly be
surprising to see some performers at the REP in professional
productions later in their careers.
Elizabeth Halpin
08-07-15
Note: No programme or cast
list for the performance was available.
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