Red Bastard @ Assembly (Bosco Theatre)

Putting this review in print seems to contravene the very spirit of Red Bastard's performance, since it became obvious very quickly it was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Even so, it is such a milestone in this reviewer's understanding of theatre and its power, that it has to be remembered in print and the internet.

When a performer claims they will change your life on their poster, it's difficult to believe it won't be a self-confidence seminar that patronises the audience, involving holding hands, singing songs, and chanting "Yes, I can!" until your voice is hoarse and then convincing you to buy the complimentary self-help book. Red Bastard's approach is completely different. No patronising, no pandering here.

You want to do something? You go get it. Not following your dreams and ambitions can turn you into an empty frame, reflecting what others want to see in you rather than revealing your true self through doing something that makes you feel alive, present, here and now. This reflects Thoreau's idea about suppression and repression:

"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation."

This is probably what people mean when they say "it was a religious experience." Red Bastard will change your life, if you engage with him honestly. It's almost like the final catharsis seen in Greek tragedies, where the experience is horrific yet is resolved at the end of it all. 

Aside from being an unforgettable experience, Red Bastard is a pleasure to watch. He's funny yet aggressive – intending to rouse the audience out of our usually passive state. His physicality possesses an extremely graceful, light-footed quality despite the size of the full-body red suit.  Admittedly, the suit makes him hard to miss, but it seems as though attempting to ignore him would be a waste of time and probably money – as an audience member, paying to go to a performance and not engaging with it would be a poor investment.

Something interesting has to happen every 10 seconds... or else you open the door to futility. [Eric Karoulla]