Bloggers: Real Internet Diaries

Over the weekend I went to see Bloggers at the Edinburgh Fringe, a play by Oliver Mann which is based entirely on British blogs. This is only the second play I've ever seen, so what follows is just my own impression and not a 'review'.

Two actors and three actresses played out overlapping excerpts from (I thought it was ten, but it seems it was eleven) blogs, some quite well known, for just over an hour. It was very lively and interesting to watch, slow in parts and incredibly funny in others.

I think there were two ways to approach this play. If you see it without having read any of the blogs, you'll see a great show about some amusing, quirky, sometimes boisterous and sometimes vulnerable characters. If instead, you have read and certainly if you've commented on any of these blogs, then you may find you're a little biased and critical of the performances.

I went there with very high expectations and probably a little scepticism, so I found I had quite mixed feelings by the end, but I was also lucky enough to go with two less biased Bunny companions. I'll tell you what they thought in a minute.

Having read some of these blog entries myself, including some of the actual excerpts used in the script, I have to say that the casts' portrayal of the characters didn't quite reflect my own glimpsed insights. I've read a courageous mix of personal and lively experiences, written by intelligent and witty people.

The play shows actors choosing (and emphasising) quirky, eccentric, vulnerable and exuberant qualities, playing out what are sometimes very personal passages, sometimes unrestricted sexual exploits. Quite a lesson in just what artistic license can achieve. The material was reported to be unchanged from the original sources and I didn't hear anything to contradict this. But of course facial and body gestures and use of verbal emphasis can give quite differing interpretations.

The end result does mean that you feel a real connection with the characters (difficult not to given such penetrating performances). I'm not sure quite how I would have reacted had any of it been me.

I was sitting very close to the front and one actress caught me, chin in hand, with my critical-eye-look, peering intently at her, a large black and white notice scrawled across my forehead saying "now you and I both know it doesn't read that way ... hm!" (I'm new to this eye-to-eye audience-actress feedback thing). Oh dear, I'm laughing now but I do hope I didn't put her off.

My companions (an ex-bunnygirl and her step mother) surprisingly loved it. These women are very straight, family oriented Scots and neither have enjoyed theatre in the past. They think bloggers have green skin, six legs, and breathe noxious fumes and they truly can't believe why anyone would want to talk about themselves in public. They have absolutely no idea that I blog. They also have a quite traditional attitude to sex.

It was a relief for me. I half expected "ye flamin' pervert twit, ye took us tae see a play aboot porny sex!", but phew! they both genuinely liked it (as did the rest of the audience, place was packed). They thought it was interesting and funny and just a set of entertaining sketches about unusual people. Now they want to go see more plays.

The end result was I think, a very good play, but I am left feeling nothing but respect for those who agreed to having their blogs used as source material. I am also very relieved that my own blog is far too dreary to have any risk of ever being the target of theatre, but there again, dreary sometimes makes good material for satire and ridicule. OK, I'm kind of relieved but with a lingering sense of paranoia.

This is one thing I can check off my 43things, hooray!

Listening to: David Bowie, "Oh You Pretty Things"
Feeling: like a goldfish in a bowl ...