A show like All Of My Friends Were There is inherently divisive - eschewing passive theatre traditionalists to create an immersive, proactive experience. However, whether the show is something audience members decide to get behind or not, the piece itself is an astounding display of incredible planning with a wonderful payoff. It's a kitsch-drenched delight where what happens next is anyone's guess.
Let's backtrack a bit: The exterior of Theatreworks looks as it ever does (save for a few balloons tucked away in the corners of a side beam.) The crowd gathers at the door to enter the performance and then, suddenly, the people are parted in two. A trickle of bodies go through the front door while the rest of us wait by a tree for further instruction. Suddenly we're ushered around the corner and through a side entrance while a select few are asked to stay behind. From the outset, this is not your average show.
Now, usually I try to steer clear of the dreaded "we" when referring to an audience of a performance, but in this instance it's apt. As we continue through the night, we're picked and plucked and placed into new, smaller groups of confused theatregoers - descending further into uncertainty, but never away from entertainment.
As we're led through a labyrinthine production it becomes clear how much consideration has gone into the execution of this show, from the grandest gesture to the smallest detail. It's elating, overwhelming, startling and surprise, not necessarily in that order, and often all at once. To give away any spoilers would be a disservice to this beautiful concept, but no two groups have the same experience. The climax is utter joy; glitter cannons go off, champagne flows, and the obligatory selfie occurs before we boogie away to the seminal sounds of Kool And The Gang.
And so, presumably, the cycle continues the next night. A new crowd, a new route, and a new ending. And this is where the truly incredible nature of the show comes to light. Punters could buy a ticket for every performance of All Of My Friends Were There and come away from each one with a truly unique memory. Because no one, not even the cast and crew, will ever see the same show twice.
