This Is Not a Theatre Company’s ‘Play In Your Bathtub’ Runs Hot and Cold (The NoPro Review)
The solo isolation audio spa is more meditation than performance
I think it’s safe to say that we are all very stressed right now. I mean, there’s nothing quite like a global tragedy to make you realize how much anxiety your body can hold at once. I personally have been living my quarantine days with a low level of panic and tension humming in the background of my existence (apologies in advance to my chiropractor). So I think what I’ve been searching for in my entertainment endeavors is a bit of respite, a relief from the constant sense of dread that comes from subconsciously being in “fight or flight” mode 24/7. I don’t mean the mind-numbing sensation of a Netflix binge or aimlessly scrolling through Twitter, but a true moment of rest and restoration. This Is Not a Theatre Company’s remote experience, Play In Your Bathtub, makes an attempt at providing the audience with an opportunity to do so.
Joining Broken Bone Bathtub and End of the World Bar and Bathtub on the ever growing list of work that takes place in the humble bath, Play In Your Bathtub: An Immersive Audio Spa for Physical Distancing is a “site-specific interactive audio play that takes place in your own bathtub.” Audience participants are encouraged to deck out their bath (or foot bath, for the less adventurous) with candles, scented oils, and the like, while tuning into a Soundcloud track emailed the day of your scheduled bath experience. The audio spa includes poetry and text spoken aloud, ambient soundscapes, and instructions for facilitated exercises for audience participants to follow along with in their own tub. The resulting vibe is similar to an ASMR meditation session or perhaps a sound bath (pun intended).
The audio play is a very lovely and soothing experience, so long as the participant is in the right “space,” both physically and mentally. I recommend following the prop and environment instructions closely, even if you’re not a luxurious bath person, otherwise it will feel a bit odd and the content may not land successfully. What I question most about this piece is: is this “theatre”? A very wise person reminded me recently that what separates “art” from “not art” is intention, so yes, it’s definitely “art,” but is it “theatre”? I suppose there is a sense of performativity in recorded meditations, but what makes Play In Your Bathtub different from any other well-crafted guided meditation? This is a massive topic of discourse in the creative community at the moment as we attempt to adapt to the current circumstances, and of course we’re all learning and experimenting together, but as we continue to delve into the world of remote performance, how do we start to define “remote theatre” as different from other mediums or even other types of theatre?
If we break it down all the way to basic performance theory, it comes down to the theatrical raison d’etre, so quite simply we’re looking for something that is happening live with two distinct groups of people: performer and spectator. This much is inarguable, everything else thereafter then spirals off into different sub-genres of theatre and performance. Of course, everything that has been recorded for audience consumption was performative at one point (films, podcasts, etc.), the artists had to perform to create it, but after it is no longer live, it ceases to be a “performance,” in terms of theory. Some remote work I have experienced so far that does tick those boxes might include Zoom readings, phone call experiences, and even live streamed musicals or concerts, which all are live events with a clear division of audience and spectator. As soon as you lose the aspects of event and spectacle, it becomes something else.
I think the main reason I question Play In Your Bathtub in particular is that it doesn’t appear to be live, so it loses the magic link of performer and spectator, as well as the sense that it is an event. This doesn’t take away from the artistic integrity of the work, but rather is a consideration of what we can classify as theatre and/or performance in a time in which performers and spectators can no longer be in the same physical space. Is Play In Your Bathtub a performance? Probably not. So then does that make it a podplay? Sure, I guess. But it’s difficult for me to separate the idea of a meditation from this piece, and there isn’t any sense of narrative or cohesive storytelling, so I would say framing it as a podplay is generous. For example, I wouldn’t find this comparable to Her Long Black Hair which has a clear sense of story. But, all theory aside, I enjoyed Play In Your Bathtub, even if I don’t consider it theatre. The work is a beautiful opportunity to relax and escape that will resonate with a lot of folks, especially during such a difficult time. The entire piece is very well put together and can evoke an atmosphere of regenerative healing if you follow the directions and are generous with your commitment to the experience. I would certainly recommend this for anyone feeling the heaviness and the gravity of the world at this moment, and — of course — for all bath connoisseurs.
Play In Your Bathtub continues through May 17. Tickets are pay what you can.
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