The Taliban Don’t Like My Knickers (DYS(THE)LEXI) 2013 Toronto 2013 Fringe Review

2 Comments

the_taliban_dont_like_my_knickers-250x250For my last show of the evening, I went to see The Taliban Don’t Like My Knickers by DYS(THE)LEXI at the Tarragon Extra Space.

A multimedia experience, The Taliban Don’t Like My Knickers is a stylized two-hander inspired by the novel ‘In The Hands of the Taliban’ written by British journalist Yvonne Ridley after she was captured by the Taliban in 2001. With Taliban video footage playing constantly in the background, I was expecting something extremely exciting and uncomfortable to watch.

The acting in this production was generally very good. I thought at times there were some pacing issues, but thought that both actors did a very good job nonetheless.

My main concern was in the writing. I wasn’t sure that actors doubling up as narrators served the show in a positive way. I would have rather been shown rather than been told what was going on. There were moments where the action on stage would be getting somewhere intense and exciting and then narrator mode would kick in and slow the whole thing down.

I had some issues with the staging as well. It seemed as though not enough angles were created and all the action was done on a vertical playing field. Although the character of the soldier didn’t have any speaking lines, I didn’t believe he was a soldier. I’m not familiar with what Taliban soldiers wear, but he didn’t seem to look the part at all.

Blocking was a little all over the place. The character of Mohammed didn’t really have anything to do or anywhere to go in particular when he wasn’t in a scene and I thought this could have been stylized more or taken care of in a different way.

All in all, I thought the acting was really quite good and it was unfortunate that most other elements of the show failed to enhance and complement the performances for me.

Details

  • The Taliban Don’t Like My Knickers plays at the Tarragon Extra Space (30 Bridgman)
  • Show times:
    July 06 08:45 PM
    July 09 07:00 PM
    July 10 02:15 PM
    July 11 12:00 PM
    July 13 03:30 PM
    July 14 12:00 PM
  • All individual Fringe tickets are $10 at the door (cash only). Tickets are available online at www.fringetoronto.com, by phone at 416-966-1062, in person at the Fringe Club, 581 Bloor St. W, July 3rd-14th, noon – 10pm (Advance tickets are $11 – $9+$2 service charge)
  • Value packs are available if you plan to see at least 5 shows.

2 thoughts on “The Taliban Don’t Like My Knickers (DYS(THE)LEXI) 2013 Toronto 2013 Fringe Review”

  1. Thanks for attending our opening night. Your review was excellent, we also saw some weaknesses in the staging that we are fixing. It’s a strange, powerful, complex story, and the actors have their hands full with it.

    Except – the Guard is an audience participation role. I was helping set up, and volunteered for the first night. The only instruction was ‘Don’t touch the actors, and listen for your orders’.

    It’s a real bit part, but I got roasted in your review. YOU DEMOLISHED ME. My first role, and already my acting career is in ashes. The other actors were teasing me. My wife was killing herself laughing. “It’s always about YOU…”.

    Thanks again for coming out to see our play.

  2. Folks, if you want to see a pretty thought provoking piece at the Fringe, check out the Taliban Don’t Like my Knickers at the Tarragon. Great acting, interesting story and since the company is from England they don’t know many people here. Let’s show them some Toronto love!! xx

Comments are closed.