XXX Neon Sign

Rumpus describe themselves as presenting ‘fresh local theatre’.  Created/facilitated by Rebecca Mayo, Nescha Jelk and Yasmin Gurreeboo, they proudly share that everything about Rumpus - its concept, modelling, philosophy and brand is created by and with the community of Adelaide’s professional independent theatre companies and theatre makers, via community meetings, votes and online discussions. Rumpus also renounces any bias based on gender, race, sexuality and personal predilections. XXX Neon Sign is the first play of their 5-play 2019 season.

Performed in a new intimate-sized theatre space in trendy Bowden, XXX Neon Sign runs for 45-50 minutes and is a piece of theatre performed almost exclusively at the piano, by respected Adelaide musician Dan Thorpe. It is based on James Andre’s epic long-form poem about his time working in a porno shop in Brisbane, and is also about how weird and interesting interactions with sex and the sex industry are in general. The poem is obscure and difficult to find, but pre-reading it may assist audience members with ‘making meaning’.

This is a flowing narrative that showcases a parade of mainly masculine, but all apparently deeply disturbed clients at the porno shop. We hear about their preferences, foibles, weaknesses and experiences through the eyes of a young man whose parents somewhat ironically believe that any job is better than no job. Tales of male fantasies abound, complete with heavy breathing and lingerie fetishes as we meet filthy-singleted psychos, crank calling kids and a drug-addled ‘psycho’ who insists on trying the merchandise on the spot. You may ask why anyone would work there, but my favourite line was, “I still love the staff discount!”

XXX Neon Sign is a mixture of prose, film, music and interpretive performance and in days gone by would have been described as avant-garde or experimental. It certainly demands that each audience member actively interprets and makes meaning of what they see, for example a woodland setting, complete with bird sounds and camping equipment is part of a story about working in a porn shop.

Design by Olivia Zanchetta and film and projection by Gilbert Kemp Attrill are each key to the story and to audience engagement. Lighting is well used in partnership with the projection, literally adding ‘light and shade’.  The performance marries a clever filmed backdrop with the narration, and the use of film is both stimulating and interesting for the audience. The film also provides many opportunities for brief humour and double entendre and allows the performer to be ever present in every scene.

The complexity of using rhythmic, often ‘crashing’ chords as punctuation required close concentration, but the mic’ing meant that, for me, some of the obviously subtle dialogue was unintelligible, needing me to strain to keep track of the complex narrative. For that reason, I struggled to understand the importance of the brief nude scene that culminated in the actor lying down whilst clutching firewood. Nor did I appreciate the necessity of what seemed to be two gratuitous, brief inclusions of audience members who clearly had no role in this otherwise evocative tale.

For audience members who are offended by strong language and nudity, both are a part of this performance.

This inventive, passionate, new style and challenging theatre pleased a very diverse audience on opening night.

XXX Neon Sign is courageous and interesting theatre from a new, adventurous company.

Jude Hines 

Photographer: Jason Tavener