GEORGE HARRIS (HE/HIM)
What do Jamiroquai dance routines, a chair of Monster cans, and a lengthy game of beer pong have in common? They all feature in Don the Monsta, of course! Following the lives of two 20-somethings, Don and Andy, Don the Monsta takes a light-hearted but at-times emotionally touching look at peer pressure, drugs, and the downsides to (smoking hella weed) After hearing about the show through a friend, last Thursday I got the pleasure of seeing Don the Monsta myself and it certainly lived up to the hype.
The show follows Don, a by-the-books straight-A student whose life takes a turn for the worst when he starts hanging out with Monster lover Andy. The show uses dance routines, physical comedy and more to create a show that had me (and the rest of the crowd) burst out laughing. Over the course of the show, Don evolves from timid and shy into a brash and bold ‘playa’ like Andy as he navigates life after high school. Through experimentation with drugs, excessive partying, and a search for the holy grail, Don and Andy laugh together, cry together and by the end of the show learn the price of the slacker lifestyle and donning the Monster.
I went into the show not sure what to expect but as I entered the theatre, I knew I was in for a good time. Walking into Deftones playing, a couch bathed in green light served as the main set. Throughout the show I was very impressed with the lighting design that transformed set into anything but a couch. The performances were also quite the standout, with excellent use of physical comedy and believable chemistry between the two leads who excelled at riffing off of each other. Both actors embodied their roles to the fullest and showed their range when taking on other roles such as Don’s father and his boss. The show also employed voiceovers as some of the characters and while I was sceptical at first, they were well executed and a clever addition considering the small cast.
Lastly, to speak on the ending of the show, Don realises that he’s wasting his life away in a pivotal and emotional scene as he sits a top a throne of monster cans. Where just moments ago the crowd was in hysterics, the crowd was silent and focused on the monster chair. Through no dialogue and no music, the set design and acting made Don’s moment of realisation and regret as real for the audience as it was for him.
Looking back on that Thursday night and I’m immensely glad that I made the choice to watch the show. All good show give you a feeling to take away with you and think about for hours deep into the night and Don the Monsta was no exception. I know I spent hours thinking not only about whether I’m as good at beer pong as Don but also about accepting who I am and getting out and living life.