Translating as ‘Bleach Series,’ DasSHOKU follows Unimares journey from a mental asylum as she endeavors to find the long lost light. That piece of light everyone is looking for. Traversing through a dim lit dream galaxy of her own mind and the devastation of Japan, Yumi Umiumare uses as much shock value as she can gather confronting and blowing the minds of her small rooms filled with big audiences. Using techniques from both Japanese Butoh theatre and Cabaret this production is all about taking the wind out of your sails with any shock factor you can find. to the aching sounds of moaning, orgasmic, ecstasy to the revamp of ‘Sexy and I know it,’ theatre gumbo are clearly looking for a reaction. From giant seven notched teats to dancing sequin embroiled turds to psychoactive nurses with giant needles there is no moment of relief during this eighty-minute performance. Holding your breath only makes it worse (though it does help to filter out the artificial oxygen at constant waft to the sense).
DasSHOKU feels like someone’s disorganized, paranoid schizophrenic episode in cabaret form. You know that feeling of always wanting to experience the madness but not knowing the possibility of coming back? Yeah. With techniques being dispatched constantly in a blatantly purposeful attempt to unsettle the audience I couldn’t help but feel a little like Alex circa A Clockwork Orange having my eyes held open to things I wasn’t sure I wanted to see. It’s mad, it’s sad and it’s as fun as heck.
With original and quirky wit in songs such as ’Japanese Business Man’ and ‘We are Dying Anyway.’ (Why don’t we do whatever we want,) the mood is confused a level less intense. There were some unexpected cringe worthy moments in this as parts of the cast rapped badly and danced to recent hit ‘sexy and I know it.,’ some of the whole shabang just felt a little over the top. But hey hey hey, it is cabaret. During Yumi’s journey to find the light she looks at themes of culture loss, culture clash, tragedy and fun all at once. With members of the audience noticeably affected by the message it’s easy to see what has made this artist so popular and what keeps her audiences fascinated. Bottom line? Can you not like something but still know that it’s good? This guy say’s mmmm yes! DaSHOKU SHAKE! is not only shocking, it’s ridiculous fun. Fun like a rollercoaster. Do not enter unless your at least thiiiiiis tall.
