Plagiarismo! ★★★★★
If you've ever heard a song on the radio that you feel you already know, or
watched a film that seems familiar in its themes, then chances are
that the idea has been appropriated from another source. If this is
done without the consensus of the work's original author it could be
termed plagiarism, though this is not always easy to prove. In this
show Richard DeDomenici attempts to unravel the question of whether
anything is original anymore whilst settling a few scores on his own
thwarted ambitions. Not that revenge is a motivating factor in this
shows premise, instead DeDomenici tries to ignite our senses in
deriving what we recognise as familiar from other sources. This he
does whilst providing conceptual/performance art with a gravitas that
it often doesn’t - sometimes deservedly - receive.
Opening
with DeDomenici singing the Spice Girls' ‘Mama’ over a backing
track of The Human League’s ‘Human’, a convincing argument is
offered as to the former's undisputed reliance on the latter. As
conceptual art always benefits from having the artist on hand to explain
the concept, DeDomenici runs the audience through a selection of his
attempts to break into mainstream markets with what he considers his
original ideas. Included in this are his belief that the only way
that Britain could win Eurovision is with a boy-band consisting
solely of immigrants. Meanwhile the footage of him appropriating the
costume and torch of the Beijing torch runner, then running through
the streets of London minutes ahead, is especially amusing and
indicative of his subversive nature. Further highlights in this show -
though it is not a show in any traditional sense - include his
Unattended Baggage in Berlin performance, which reveals far more than
the obvious reactions.
Plagiarismo! is a compelling work and I can’t recommend it highly enough. It
resembles a sophisticated game of Trivial Pursuits and raises
questions and issues that will stay with you long after its
conclusion. Although it is more of a lecture than a show, it is one
that will stimulate conversation and debate for days afterwards - as
art should. In a cultural stasis where the waste of sperm and egg
that is Peter Andre is lauded as an artist that people want to listen
to, it is a crime that DeDomenici - whose persona hinges on the
anti-star though he considers himself a brand - remains virtually
unknown outside his own sphere. This is a show that comes highly
recommended, so if you have a favourite song, band, book or film that
you feel has been ripped off, only to languish in obscurity, whilst a
more commercial, diluted version piles up the coffers, then let
DeDomenici know. He can sympathise.
David Marren, All The Festivals
Plane Food Café ★★★★
Plane
Food Café is that unusual concept a wacky idea that actually works
due to being well conceived in its principles. Having no idea prior
to my arrival what to expect I was mildly surprised to be ushered
into the flight cabin of an aeroplane. Constructed from actual parts
of a 1982 737 the journey was now set to begin.
After
being seated in our chairs and adorned in our safety blanket the
ritual of in-flight safety then proceeded to take place. These
formalities out of the way, lunch orders were taken-for real - and we
were then treated to an in-flight information film. Without giving
too much away this was dryly humorous whilst highly informative. This
work operates on one level as a conceptual style comedy and on
another as a serious piece of work that draws attention to highly
sensitive and important environmental issues. It does this
successfully by never overstating any point to the stage where the
audience feels it is brow-beaten.
The
only thing that was lacking on this flight was a substantial number
of other passengers but the premise indicates that on a busier
schedule it has the possibility of really flying high. The audiences
contributions being crucial and naturally drawn out, it is a relief
there is no haranguing or lambasting to draw a response or garner a
cheap laugh.
Plane
Food Café then is a highly developed concept that succeeds in its
objectives of making its audience ponder their own contribution to
the decline of our environment. There are three flights daily and
the half-hour passes without a hint of turbulence. Although you may
not get to join the Mile High Club you will get food for thought as
well as food to eat - not haute cuisine but as palatable as much fare
passing muster in various cafes around town. So I suggest you grab
some hand luggage, tender your boarding pass and step on board.
David Marren, All The Festivals.
