The next play on Chronic Insanity’s FableMosh platform, allowing cross-casting from a diverse set of eight performers, is Homunculus by Joe Strickland.
The subject of this play is frogs as pets and/or social influencers. It’s interesting to see how this strange tale unfolds through the different ways of performing.
Emily Webster and Jamie Stewart treat this as stand-up storytelling with a pinch of the bizarre. For Laura Turner, it’s an exciting rush to the finish, while Jordan Laidley takes it slow.
In Jacob Kay’s tale there’s an air of gleeful nastiness, while Marilyn Ann Bird’s ‘wet room to wetland’ becomes a vast passion project she can’t wait to tell us about. The frogs now lead the way for the ‘frog influencer’.
Strickland’s play looks at the world of the super influencer who just can’t stop spending, chasing, and making something new. The title, Homunculus, refers to a process of science that develops something quite unique.
Peyvard Sadeghian’s character delivery is one of curiosity and exploration. Her homunculus is her ticket into the algorithm, and more money that she ever dreamed of.
This makes Victor Itang’s character nervously excited as he watches the creature grow. And grow. I’m watching performers in order up to this point but then switch it up a little.
For Bird, her creation has become a deep irritation as he lives in the loft with her and is ‘a lot of work’ and ‘an ugly little freak child”. Turner captures the terror of this mutation, while Webster makes the story of ‘mad science’ mildly hilarious.
By chapter 4 matters have become unsettling, drawing out the beauty of the writing with appropriate backdrops. Kay is still menacing, Stewart is pragmatic, Laidley is cautious but committed.
It’s over to Itang to finish off the story, this cautionary and lopsided tale. As a full play this ticks all the boxes, adding an extra layer to digital and content creation while allowing for both long and short attention spans.
I’ve watched it through again in full, twice, as performed by Webster and Bird. Two very different deliveries and interpretations. You’ll no doubt have your favourite, too and FableMosh allows you to create your own experience.
4 stars!
You can access Homunculus and other plays by Chronic Insanity at https://fablemosh.vhx.tv