Technology has and will always be a method of exploring artistry and storytelling in new ways. The clash between the old and new is in many ways one of the founding principles of both, as much as with any dichotomy. Lula Mebrahtu’s new performance piece takes that to an extreme, in ways both designed and unintended.
As it happened, the day of review, the clash between the intricate and bespoke technological wizardry and the ancient wiring and archaic setup of Summerhall were at odds, meaning that 10 minutes had to be shaved off the performance, and prompting an apology and promise of complimentary return tickets to any who wanted them. It also meant that repeatedly during the performance, Mebrahtu had to return to her laptop to queue up the next segment or tweak something that wasn’t going quite right. Which she did with an easy grace and charisma, which meant it felt less like an ordeal and more just a novel twist on things.
The performance itself, part multimedia, part spoken, part dance and song, tells the story of another Lula (presumably the same character from the previous year’s show, simply called OommoO). This particular tale revolves around her development of severe uterine fibroids, which, although benign, give her the appearance of pregnancy. This “Black Woman’s Curse” throws her life into chaos, causing her mental anxiety, pain, discomfort and existential quandaries.
It’s a beautiful performance, as Mebrahtu’s easy manner keeps the audience engaged, and as she deftly manipulates her electronic Mi.Mu Gloves to change lights, loop audio and project images on the wall behind her. It’s also one that is genuinely moving at times, eliciting tears from the audience at several points.
The trouble was that occasional moments of dialogue are almost lost in the echoes of the room, be that due to the roaring gales in the above windows, the odd acoustics of the room not playing nicely with Mebrahtu’s soft voice and quick speech or perhaps the balancing of levels due to the aforementioned technological woes. In any case, it made what could have been a very immersive and touching tale one that just couldn’t quite land.