CONFUSED CHRONICLES OF ALEPPO at the Camden People’s Theatre
★
“The end result is indeed confused, and sad to say, lacking in drama”
Confused Chronicles of Aleppo sounds promising from the description on the Camden People’s Theatre’s website, but the actual performance turns out to be something rather different. It’s a fifty minute, two man production. Underluminal, the novel on which Confused Chronicles of Aleppo is based, presents the story of two photo journalists who travel the world in search of images that will make them famous. It’s a tale told in flashbacks, ending eventually in the war torn city of Aleppo. We know from the beginning that the Syrian assignment will have tragic consequences for both Gerard and Becky.
Confused Chronicles of Aleppo is well named, though perhaps a touch ironic, because there is much in the narrative that is opaque and difficult to follow. Performer Alessandro Onorato reads from a pile of pages on stage, accompanied by the steady beat of musician Nicolò Bodini of the band La Scapigliatura. As he finishes a page, he lets go, and it flutters to the floor. Truth be told, there’s not much about Aleppo in this meandering tale of two photo journalists who meet on a beach in Vietnam, and become colleagues, as well as lovers.
Onorato has any number of opportunities to connect with the audience and give a tangible sense of the main characters in Confused Chronicles of Aleppo. But it’s difficult for the audience to see these moments when Onorato’s eyes are glued to the pages he is reading. The beat from Bodini, while pleasant to listen to, also has the unfortunate effect of muting much of what Onorato is saying. The end result is indeed confused, and sad to say, lacking in drama. Despite the promising title.
Onorato and Bodini have the germ of something interesting in Confused Chronicles of Aleppo. There is an eye catching backdrop on stage for the piece, with rough textured textiles on which pages of script have been attached. Despite that, there are still missed opportunities to create a set that is more evocative of the locations that are described in the show. Most importantly, Onorato needs to ditch his script, and simply connect with the audience. There’s a great story waiting to be revealed in Confused Chronicles of Aleppo, but it needs more work before it’s ready for its next appearance in the theatre.
CONFUSED CHRONICLES OF ALEPPO at the Camden People’s Theatre
Reviewed on 25th August 2023
by Dominica Plummer
More reviews from Camden Fringe 2023:
Invasion! An Alien Musical | ★★ | Camden People’s Theatre | July 2023
This Girl: The Cynthia Lennon Story | ★★ | Upstairs at the Gatehouse | July 2023
Glad To Be Dead? | ★★ | Hen & Chickens Theatre | July 2023
Maybe I Do? | ★★★★ | Hen & Chickens Theatre | July 2023
Flamenco: Origenes | ★★★★ | Etcetera Theatre | August 2023
All That Glitters | ★★½ | Rosemary Branch Theatre | August 2023
Dead Souls | ★★½ | Etcetera Theatre | August 2023
Kate-Lois Elliott: Gentrif*cked | ★★★ | Museum of Comedy | August 2023
Improv The Dead | ★★★★ | Hen & Chickens Theatre | August 2023
Avocado Presents | ★★★ | Hen & Chickens Theatre | August 2023
Sarah Roberts : Do You Know Who I Am? | ★★★★ | The Bill Murray | August 2023
End Of The World Fm | ★★★ | Cockpit Theatre | August 2023
Ashley Barnhill: Texas Titanium | ★★★★ | Museum of Comedy | August 2023
The Vagina Monologues | ★★★ | Canal Café Theatre | August 2023
Not Like Other Girls | ★★★★ | The Queer Comedy Club | August 2023
Improv Death Match | ★★★★ | Aces and Eights | August 2023
Theatresports | ★★★★ | Museum of Comedy | August 2023
My Body Is Not Your Country | ★★★ | Cockpit Theatre | August 2023
Confused Chronicles Of Aleppo
Confused Chronicles Of Aleppo
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