A review of Black Box 1

A review of Black Box 1

By Chris Giles

The students of the Simon Fraser University Black Box ensemble are putting on their first production of the season. The production is appropriately named Black Box 1. The concept of Black Box is to provide a theatrical experience without the usual adornments of ordinary live theatre. This means no sets or backdrops, just limited costumes and props. 

The Black Box ensemble succeeds magnificently in exactly that. This production married movement and sound in a truly captivating way. It was unique and unorthodox without relying on novelty. Part of the allure, here, is the lack of dialogue. Although apparent at first, I found myself completely accepting this after about ten minutes. The actions, the tension, the musicality of the sounds all convey the necessary drama to keep you engaged and enthralled for the hour long piece. The performance shines primarily in its combination of movement and sound. The performers move about in way that mimics dance in their coordination and elegance. These movements are augmented by sound that adds weight and drama to everything they do forcing us to see these plain motions in a completely new way. 

The set grows in intensity until the tension reaches its climax with a giant bang at the end that resolves the piece in a satisfying way. Overall, the journey was well worth it.