Home / Arts and Entertainment / Noda's Vision: Time Travel, Angels, and Dancing Bananas
Noda's Vision: Time Travel, Angels, and Dancing Bananas
3 Jul
Summary
- Futuristic fantasy explores bone conduction and biotech ethics.
- The play features time travel, dinosaurs, Cleopatra, and angels.
- It was inspired by a 2016 care home tragedy in Sagamihara.
Hideki Noda's imaginative play, originating from Japan, presents a wild, futuristic fantasy. It opens with a cosmic view of the Tower of Babel and then embarks on a journey through time, encompassing dinosaurs, Cleopatra's eggs, and advanced biotech. The narrative weaves in elements of bone conduction, where the protagonist's present-day bones vibrate in sync with fossilized remains.
The production features a diverse cast, including figures like the Pied Piper, Mephisto, and Faust, alongside Noda himself portraying a gene scientist. Central to the story is a contemplation of the ethics surrounding disease eradication and the pursuit of human perfection. This theme was significantly influenced by the 2016 Sagamihara care home killings near Tokyo.
Audiences are taken on a whirlwind adventure, blending dreams, scientific experiments, and historical excavations. Despite its rapid pace and often surreal shifts, the play offers a visually spectacular experience with stunning choreography, physical theatre, and innovative set and projection designs. Moments like dancing bananas and ensemble performances as dinosaur fossils are highlights.
However, the play's ambitious scope and two-hour duration without an interval can lead to an earnestness that contrasts with its initial anarchic comedy. Nevertheless, it leaves attendees with a lasting impression of Noda's unique and zany imaginative world, complete with a recurring phonebox motif.
