Highly unconventional and deeply personal, Whale Fall Or Song to Dance with My Death is unlike any other show I have ever seen. Guided by Bruna Longo’s own experience of losing her father, she invites the audience to observe her own funeral and into her mind as she is consumed by thoughts of her own death and societal perceptions of morality. I found the opening prologue intriguing, as was Longo’s anguish at her inability to turn her own death into theatre.
The setting is integral to the atmosphere, with the performance situated near the graveyard at St Cuthbert’s Church. While the lighting and staging contributed to the performance, I thought the most impressive element of the production was its use of movement. The intentionality behind each gesture, which were often obscure, made it feel as though every feeling Longo was communicating to the audience could be captured in a singular photograph.
I was equally struck by the sincerity of her words and the highly stylised lexis of the script. Her integration of historical death rituals was an interesting aspect; seeming as though she was using the past to find some direction for how to grieve. However, there were times Longo’s thoughts were difficult to follow, reducing the cohesiveness of the performance. Occasionally, I wondered how similar a PhD research presentation would be, as it entailed some details that felt extraneous and detracted from the theatrical experience. While some lines were delivered as revelations, they did not always land with the sense of epiphany they seemed intended to have.
Additionally, I felt the metaphor of the blue whale could have been woven more consistently throughout the performance, as per the title’s dedication to it. The transitions between singing, speaking and movements also occasionally felt like whiplash, although perhaps this disruption communicates the idea that grief is not a linear progression.
Whale Fall or Song to Dance with My Death epitomises the theatricality of death and acts as a rigorous enquiry of morality and grief. While its conceptual ambition occasionally overwhelms its cohesion, Longo’s sincerity, physicality and captivating stage presence makes this performance very memorable.
Whale Fall or Song to Dance with My Death is running until 27 August at St Cuthbert’s Church. Buy tickets here.
Image by Danilo Apoena, provided for press use.
