What sounds a tad mundane is spiced up by the elaborate choreography accompanying each piece, ranging from comedic to off the wall. 

PuSh Festival - Stage Review

Show: Hot Pepper, Air Conditioner and the Farewell Speech

Company: chelfitsch

Director: Toshiki Okada

Cast: Taichi Yamagata, Riki Takeda, Mari Ando, Saho Ito, Kei Namba, Fumie Yokoo

Venue: Studio T, Goldcorp Centre for the Arts, 149 West Hastings Street.

Run: January 26th to 28th, 2012

Time: 65 minutes

In Japanese with Subtitles

Reviewed By Alex Hutt

A comparison that has been brought up several times over literature and stage is contrasting the mundane with the strange, and Toshiki Okada has found that combination perfectly in his play “Hot Pepper, Air Conditioner and the Farewell Speech.”

Three separate scenarios play out as temps plan a farewell party, two full time workers discuss the AC, and another temp delivers her goodbye speech. What sounds a tad mundane is spiced up by the elaborate choreography accompanying each piece, ranging from comedic to off the wall. 

This is immediately exemplified in “Hot Pepper,” where three office temps (Riki Takeda, Saho Ito and Fumie Yokoo) are chosen to plan a party for Erika, who we will meet later. A commonplace discussion is punctuated by jerking, grotesque movements that are often funny. This includes one co-worker using her fan to turn the pages of a magazine, which show off both desperation and laziness. Though the discussion becomes repetitive and circulatory we aren’t bored by it because each time has a new bit of info to present. For example, one temp suggests Motsu Hot Pot, to reveal later the she only said it because it’s her favorite. The humour comes mostly from the fact that the temps have no idea what Erika actually likes to eat, so they end up basing decisions off what they would serve at their own farewell party. Those who work in an office will recognize that there is a truism here: we often don’t know anything about our fellow co-workers.

“Air Conditioner” is where the awkward, stilted gestures are put into use the best, as two full time workers (Mari Ando, Taichi Yamagata) discuss who might be turning up the AC so high every day. Again, the conversation is so repetitive that is begins to border on being annoying, but the underlying subtext of the dialogue is what makes it interesting. It slowly becomes apparent there is sexual tension between the two, brought out by the male’s (Yamagata) hip swivels and the girls (Ando) dipping bends. There are moments where it seems about to boil over, but then it is cut short, only to have the AC story begin again. Though it doesn’t seem like it, this is actually quite humourous, and it is the best entry of the three as a result. Another note is that it is the only one that is started by an actor alerting the crowd to the fact they are acting out a scenario, as Yamagata intros with “Alright, we are going to do this piece ‘Air Conditioner’ now!”

“The Farewell Speech” is the least bearable, but also the most cynical. Even though it’s rooted in Japanese corporate culture, it still pertains to any office environment, as Erika (Kei Namba) windles off a lengthy, bizarre speech about killing a dying cicada. She is making several pertinent observations, but it doesn’t matter in the end, since none of her co-workers are invested. For instance, Yamagata makes polite nods, but appears drowsy, while Ando stares at the floor. The temps look like they are about to fall over in either boredom or sleep deprivation. Even though movement is the most restrained here, it still points out to us what we already know: when we work in an office we rarely ever truly listen to what each other has to say.

If you work/ have worked in an office, you will definitely enjoy “Hot Pepper, Air Conditioner and the Farewell Speech,” as you will find several of the observations you might have made yourself mirrored back at you. The cynical nature also lends itself quite well to comedy, which is mostly funny since it is also true. Though some might be turned off by the circular nature of the dialogue, it does not get too aggravating, and serves to provide examples for the messages in the play. It’s a definite recommend to see, and will likely make that office job a little more tolerable.

Written by :

alessandro