Happy Go Wrong | Andi Snelling
Piles of paper that look like shredded skin are illuminated like deep tanned voluminous mountains against the black. There are long loose drapes of paper that fall to the floor and smaller pieces that look like two eyes and a mouth. It reminds me of the scene in Labyrinth when Sarah is falling through the hands trying to choose the direction she needs to go in. As a major prop in this play, my imagination is lost to the sense of drowning once Andi’s character is fighting her demons in the blue, her voice, her cries, the very essence of profound loss and the shapes the paper make around her - she is cocooned in the paradox of her situation, live or die.
The archetype of the angel, mythical creature, saviour or inner subconscious is portrayed by ‘French Aviator’ on skates, provides the comedy against the anguish this show journeys in to help Andi to see the light. The contrast of fit and fun, charming and effervescent versus what this show wants you to understand, that is, our choices can be made for us and it is then up to us to find out what we do when we lose what we took for granted and to learn how to live, and live with our new self and unescapable limitations.
There are sobering yet delightful moments that focus on the “the art of living”. The angel narrates the ever-increasing exploration amidst moments of physical theatre. In one scene, I am soaked in music and emotion, a chair, the dance, the side light mimicking the warm rays of the sun - she wrestles her way to recovery. In the angel’s words “The more the mess, the greater the rescue… the traffic control of the soul.” J’adore!
Notable moments of guilt laughing include Andi donning her vengeful blond wig with the volume set to overdrive on mockery. Andi’s love of clowning and engaging the audience went full schadenfreude. I loved this character’s expose on the inane crap one cops from deadbeat wannabe lovers, well-meaning but ill-meaning family members and the system including the fake assistance the government audio cues provide for comic relief on how subpar the reality of what their offer is and why so many don’t try.
Disability art is often one of the hardest narratives to sell. Why? Because it can be labelled under the guise of “community art” and the stereotypes abound for this. People are starting to seek shows that examine limitation and control, that unpack systemic barriers and uncomfortable, intense displays of emotion. On the flipside, they are often very funny because art by people with disability is about being able to laugh at the predicament we find ourselves in, often found in the darkest of places.
Happy Go Wrong, a one woman show, features one talented and skilled performer who was not afraid to strip herself bare and make you examine the raw truth without filters or bias. Andi brought a highly challenging personal situation into the forefront and turned it into a powerful legacy. Disability art is meant to be confronting when it serves as provocateur. “I want to live, to be alive... once you have the wisdom of death you can never go back. If we can't find the happy in the wrong, how could we possibly go on?
Cover image: Darren Gill
