In whatever production he appears, Gerard Bester is given to telling his own story – mostly in the present tense. One has gotten used to his style of narration in the many productions he has done under the choreography and direction of Robyn Orlin. As the work deteriorates intentionally, from theatrical order to conceptual mayhem, Bester is always present, trying to keep a cool head, feeling some responsibility to figure out, on the audience’s behalf, what’s going on.
So here is Bester in his own solo show doing precisely what he has done with Orlin, but now with the elbowroom to expand his performance persona as broadly as he sees fit.
The Art of Taking Off begins at its end – Bester, unclothed, suspended from the rafters trying to figure out the perfect ending to his play. Should he be Jesus? Should he be Cupid? Ultimately, he decides to be nobody — the Everyman that is described throughout the work, the non-descript person who is trying to start every moment afresh while knowing full well that life is really about the journey towards an inevitable end.
The Art of Taking off is about a man dressing himself for his end. Of course, with this kind of work one can only surmise, but I have no doubt that Bester’s Everyman is preparing for death. So, as he primps and preens one gets a sinister feeling that what is punted as “the art of taking off” is really the art of “shutting down.”
In shutting down, Bester’s Everyman goes through all the comfort zones he has to: sliding around naughtily in his socks, listening to his favourite tunes, waltzing down memory lane, etcetera.
The play is sad, not because it’s intentionally meaningful and poignant but because Bester’s character is intentionally unherioc and shallow, therefore very human. It’s Woody Allen-esque, full of the type of self-deprecation that makes audiences feel better about whatever personal woes they may have brought to the theatre with them. In this way Bester has shown that he is a highly astute clown. Directed by Sue Pam-Grant, this may well be the most meaningful and enjoyable piece of theatre you see all month.
The Art of Taking Off shows at the Wits Downstairs Theatre, Jorissen Street, Brammfontein on April 13, 16 and 20 at 8pm. There is a discount for students. Book at Computicket. Tel: (011) 717 1376.