When you don't know what to say

Issue 

Noroc!
Presented by Death Defying Theatre
Playhouse Theatre, University of Western Sydney
April 23, 8pm.
University of Newcastle Drama Theatre
April 19, 8pm.
Bookings phone (02) 601 8011.
Reviewed by Lisa Macdonald

"Noroc" is an all-purpose Romanian word which is used for hello, goodbye, cheers and when you don't know what to say. As a title for this performance, Noroc! says it all.

The promotional material says Noroc! is a "physical performance in translation", a "collaboration exploring life in the gaps between languages, on the boundaries of cultures." It is certainly an exploration, but of what I'm still not quite sure.

Noroc! uses sound, music, light, multiple languages, dance, song and various visual aids to present overlapping vignettes from the lives of four women displaced in Australia by their foreignness. With virtually no dialogue and a minimum of props, the women use facial expression and body movement to take the audience on an emotional voyage through their own sadness, anger, joy and frustration.

The energetic performances by Terese Casu, Deborah Leiser, Aida Amirkhanian and Michelle St Anne were captivating — it is refreshing to watch an all-woman performance which is physically so powerful.

Using stereotypes and humour to confront and challenge cultural prejudices, Noroc! seems to be inviting and urging its audience to venture beyond their narrow, socially constructed modes of communication to begin to understand the complexity and richness of modern Australian society. This is an interesting and not unimportant theme — especially for non-English speaking background people living in a monolingual, racist society.

The problem is that Noroc! doesn't take it any further; it doesn't attempt (or maybe it simply doesn't manage) to bridge the cultural gaps sufficiently to allow me to feel part of any dialogue, verbal or otherwise, about the world as others see it, about cultural differences and identities and about the need for change. Like all postmodern theatre, Noroc! left me feeling disconnected and dissatisfied.

If you like our work, become a supporter

Green Left is a vital social-change project and aims to make all content available online, without paywalls. With no corporate sponsors or advertising, we rely on support and donations from readers like you.

For just $5 per month get the Green Left digital edition in your inbox each week. For $10 per month get the above and the print edition delivered to your door. You can also add a donation to your support by choosing the solidarity option of $20 per month.

Freecall now on 1800 634 206 or follow the support link below to make a secure supporter payment or donation online.