Dark Noon

I found it all a bit confusing but on the whole I enjoyed the show. Excellent stagecraft, transforming an empty stage into a Western town. High energy performances from all the cast.

This show popped up on my radar just before arriving at the Fringe and then a local friend also brought it to my attention. Waiting with anticipation, I was not disappointed. I cannot begin to explain the scope and direction of this production. Interactive, a technological triumph that engages and assists the audience, personal and inclusive, kept us off balance while also making us think and feel. I would have loved to been there to hear how they developed the production. The only thing that confused me with the Chapter about genocide. But put the perspective of the Western into a new light for me. Never been one of my favorite genre but I appreciate how it influenced so many lives. Will be interested where they can take this show to other venues around the world. It needs to tour! And if you have a chance, go and sit in the front row.....you should be involved. And stay for the Epilogue.

At a total loss to understand the rave reviews. I thought it was an incoherent badly performed and directed mess.

This has got to be the most impressive feat of theater in the Festival.

The company of 5-6 actors from South Africa tell the story of the American Wild West. A huge theater with traditional seating, as well as "tennis court" seating on the stage itself. Audience members in the first rows of each section are likely to be brought on stage to help tell the story, so give yourself a few rows distance if that's not for you.

A seething yet at times hysterical retelling of the American myths that plague the identity of my f***ed up home country today. Each actor earns their salt and then some. And their use of live feed is exceptional.

Make sure you stay for the Epilogue

Incredible visual visceral performance. The show unfolds in layers of depth and meaning with rhythms of south Africa echoing strangely into the wild west of American frontier history . Loved it. The end pulls the threads tightly givibg a whole extra layer of meaning. Best in show.

4.5 stars - watch this show NOW!
This production is unlike anything I’ve seen before, and by far the best show I’ve seen at the Fringe - exceptionally professional and ambitious. The acting is phenomenal, with the actors seamlessly moving from one character to the next, and musical elements, as well as onstage cameras, are used extremely effectively to heighten both the dramatic and the comedic moments. The story itself is captivating, providing a fast-paced yet detailed and emotionally hard-hitting account of the history of the United States, from the arrival of the first settlers to the end of the Wild West era. I’m not giving it 5 stars because I thought the story dragged a little bit and was harder to follow about 2/3 of the way through, but it did pick up again and I would still 100% recommend. It immerses you in another world; makes you flinch, gasp, and laugh; and leaves you (or at least me!) thinking about the origins of the violence still present in today’s world.

A wonderfully bizarre production full of inventive direction. Curious to how American audiences will receive a show that puts violence at the forefront of the American Dream narrative.

The history of the Wild West is stripped of its romance and exposed in all its murderous brutality and immorality. The bad and the ugly as told by a troupe of performers with reasons to find European colonisation an unalloyed disaster for the poor, the black and the indigenous. The style of storytelling is a bit unconventional and the growing western town gradually obscures parts of the action. Acting is committed and works. Lovely theatre with a vast ‘stage’ helps keep things comfortable during the 100 minutes running time. Worth a visit.

A retelling of the history of the United States through the eyes and following those who made it: immigrants. This show is an efficient and well-produced piece of work that captures you with its energy and novelty, if not just by selecting you from the front row. You are able to be immersed in the act as well as sometimes humoured despite its dark content. The gradual assembling of the stage is a metaphor for change in America: out with the old, in with the new. The set building can obscure the sight in parts, but there the dialogue says more than any movement can.

The history of the creation of the USA through the eyes of a South African company. Brutal and punchy. Apartheid South Africa gave them a different perspective on the brutality of slavery, the wild west etc.
The personal statements at the end explained how watching 'westerns' (where the white guy was always the 'good guy') was problematic but explained much about the modern USA.
****

Selected show on the back of strong media reviews which were well deserved. Very glad to have seen it.

If you're not a fan of audience participation, avoid the front row on all 3 sides!

I wasn't a big fan of the staging personally - as the show progresses more structures are added so you end up only being able to watch things unfold on a partially blocked screen. I find it hard to remain engaged once it no longer feels like live theatre.

The ending stories were the highlight for me though

★★★★★ Go NOW, thank later!

THE GOOD
* All angles covered. Acting transcends from the Big Stage to the Big Screen.
* Hits Different. Not just another story, but a slap-in-the-face message we didn't know we needed.
* Audience Engagement. Buckle up, partner! The most genuine and purposeful interactions I’ve ever seen.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
* Like looking for a needle in a haystack of brilliance. Good luck.

The directors left no stone unturned in search of gold.

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Attending Dark Noon's performance was an unforgettable experience that left me feeling elated from start to finish. Every second of the show was an absolute joy to watch! The cast's talent and dedication were evident, bringing the characters to life with such passion and skill that I was completely immersed in the story. The sets and costumes were beautifully crafted, adding to the overall enchantment of the production.

Incredible immersive show, talented cast and mind blowing set. Go see. Sit on the front and get involved!