Bright lights, young actors, a local venue. And, all of this accompanied by an overarching captivating concept for structuring the show. This is The Neo-Futurist Theater’s The Infinite Wrench, a creative stage play that I saw on May 5. But, can a small local production like this live up to a modern onlooker’s standards? Let’s dive in.
The Neo-Futurists are an experimental theater troupe, founded in Chicago in 1988 and since then extended to several other cities. The ensemble’s signature performance, The Infinite Wrench, is a 60-minute rendering of 30 consecutive acts. Interestingly, the audience decides the order of the routine, shouting out a number 1-30 to choose the undecided next scene.
Overall, the show is certainly entertaining. It is generally a modern and surrealist one, with scenes ranging from 10-second satirical bits to five-minute-long fantastic monologues. You never know what to expect, from audience involvement to sticks of butter flying through the air. The actors personally write the segments’ scripts, creating new ones each week to keep the show fresh and innovative.
Personally, I enjoyed the performance. The execution itself was decent, the presented ideas were not anything mind-blowing. Curiously, the reason for my pleasure lies in the way in which the show is structured. The scenes are made by the thespians themselves, and because of this, are able to capture a bit of the performers’ lives and true personas.
One of my favorite activities in life when I have nothing to do is to people-watch. I often relish movies, even if they aren’t very good, that simply depict life and humans just being humans. In my opinion, this is where the beauty of the Neo-Futurists can be found. The nature of their show, portraying in turn the nature of their lives, is congenial, both to watch and then to later reflect on.
To be fair, there are issues with the play. The actors purposely try to make their show seem bizarre and random, but this doesn’t always work in their favor, often creating the illusion of inexperience and ineptitude. And as I believe, in general, a modernist show like this should strive to have an overarching message or theme about something specific, and unfortunately, The Infinite Wrench failed at that, leaving its segments feeling a bit flat-footed.
All in all, if you are looking for a world-class production of Hamlet, you won’t get it here. But if what you seek is a witty neighborhood show conveying the experiences and visions of a troupe of young actors, then you may be in luck. Consider checking out the Neo-Futurists. They may be the breath of fresh air you need in our chaotic world.
