Let's embark on a whimsical journey through the mind of Hideki Noda, a Japanese writer-director with a penchant for the extraordinary. His latest creation, –320°F, is a wild ride through time, space, and the ethical dilemmas of our future.
The story opens with a bang, quite literally, as God observes the Tower of Babel, a towering skyscraper reaching for the heavens. From there, we're thrust into a satirical drama that spans eons, from the age of dinosaurs to the frozen eggs of Cleopatra, and into the realm of biotech and time travel. It's a mind-bending premise, and one that Noda handles with a unique blend of irreverence and thoughtfulness.
At the heart of the story is Help, a D/deaf protagonist played by Sadawo Abe. Help's journey takes him back to the past, where his present-day bones connect with fossilized remains through the power of vibration. It's a fascinating concept, one that raises questions about our connection to our ancestors and the potential for medical breakthroughs. But it's also a story about the ethics of eradicating disease and the pursuit of creating the “ultimate” human, a theme inspired by a tragic real-life event: the mass killings at a care home in Sagamihara, outside Tokyo, in 2016.
As the plot twists and turns, we're introduced to a cast of characters that includes the Pied Piper of Hamelin, Mephisto, and Faust. Noda himself takes on the role of a researcher in the cutthroat world of gene science, adding a layer of meta-theatricality to the proceedings. The satire is sharp and adrenalized, with a sugar-high energy that keeps the audience on their toes. It's a fun ride, with highlights like a dancing banana set piece and the ensemble's physical theater as fossilized dinosaur bones.
The production design is a marvel in itself, with Yukio Horio's billowing sheets creating a sense of mystery and wonder. Taiki Ueda's projection design is striking and never overdone, complemented by Kodue Hibino's vibrant costumes. The choreography by Shigehiro Ide is a standout, bringing a sense of beauty and grace to the stage.
However, the two-hour runtime without an interval proves to be a challenge. The satire and whimsy, while delightful, become a bit too earnest as the show progresses, losing some of the anarchic energy that made the beginning so captivating. Yet, despite this, the audience is left with a sense of having stepped into Noda's zany imagination, a place where phone boxes and Tardises coexist.
–320°F is a bold and ambitious work, a testament to Noda's creative vision. It's a thought-provoking piece that blends comedy, satire, and fantasy, leaving audiences with much to ponder long after the final curtain call.
