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“Weirdest Video You Will EVER See” deserves a prize for the most accurately titled video on YouTube. I am not a dancer, so can someone who is more in touch with “The Arts” please watch this and explain what this “means”?
VIEWER COMMENT: “Kids, diner is ready! (Bobbinjo) – (01m02s) a man sprints across the stage on crutches and bangs a clothes rail with a crotch mouted metal rod
This ‘Ronseal‘ of YouTube video does “exactly what it says on the tin”. It is definitely the weirdest acid trip of a performance I’ve ever seen. Maybe I simply don’t understand art, maybe this is a case of the ‘Emperor’s New Clothes’ where everyone is applauding because they don’t want to be seen as ‘uncultured’.
I incorrectly assumed this was an oddity from an ‘alternative’ provincial theatre but it appears to a production at the self proclaimed “World’s No.1 venue dedicated to international dance” The Sadler’s Wells. Furthermore, the ‘Compagnie Marie Chouinard‘ dance troupe seem to be very well known and respected.
VIEWER COMMENT “thats how i skateboard :3” (SuperTheToaster)
At 02m06s a man ‘humps’ his way across the stage on a skateboard while two women flail around on harnesses. Then another man jumps behind them shouting “huh!”
“Montreal-based Compagnie Marie Chouinard is a firm fixture on the international dance scene, renowned for artistic director Marie Chouinard’s distinctive choreographic style, which explores the poetics of the body in immediate, intelligible and ever-surprising ways. Crutches, rope, horizontal bars, and harnesses liberate, restrain and define the dancers’ movements in Marie Chouinard’s debut at Sadler’s Wells.”
Source: Sadler’s Wells Theatre
After viewing this I couldn’t help wondering how this was pitched to the Sadler’s Wells. It must’ve been quite a surreal meeting. I have mentally added this production to “Episodes of ‘Dragons Den‘ I would love to see”. Alongside the “Pet Rock” I never understood how this production managed to secured any financial backing whatsoever… or understand who paid money to see a performance in person.
Imagined Production Meeting
Compagnie Marie Chouinard (CMC): “We have a great idea for a new production, it will be contemporary yet thought provoking… we will explore how man interacts with his environment… through the medium of dance”
Sadler’s Well’s Theatre (SWT): “That sounds wonderful, give me a brief summary…”
Reaction Video 1: The Weirdest Video You’ll Ever See
CMC:: “A dancer will sprint across the stage on crutches, turn to the crowd with a maniacal smile, and then thrust a pole attached to his crotch repeatedly against a clothes rail”
SWT: “Hmmm… wonderful! Impertinent without being childish!”
CMC:: “We will follow that with a man who looks like cross between Brian May from Queen and Slash from Guns & Roses playing a crutch like a wind instrument next to a topless girl sitting cross legged in the lotus position. While this is happening another guy will propel a girl across the stage with his shoulders against her thighs while she is lying on a skateboard”
SWT: “It sounds like it perfectly illustrates man’s inhumanity to man, but in a rather passive fashion, can you add something to inject more masculinity, we don’t want people to think we’re weird”
CMC:: “Hmmm, I see what you mean…. To redress the balance, we’ll have a man hump his way across the stage on a skateboard with a kazoo in his mouth while two girls attached to harnesses flail around as a man leaps behind them shouting “huh!””
SWT: “That sounds very perfect! It’s sensible and not like a confusing bad acid induced trip at all, when can you start?”
My favourite part of this video are the comments from bemused, confused and worryingly ‘aroused’ viewers. Scroll through the list and in amongst the expected “WTF?” and “meanwhile at your local mental hospital” comments you’ll find some great feedback.
Best Viewer Comments…
The Amused…
- “I finally made it. *plants flag* I’ve finally made it to the peak of the weird part of youtube.” – (Sir473)
- “I wanna be the guy who humps his way across the stage on a 4 wheel with a kazoo in his mouth!” – (Morgan Montz)
- “That crack-addicted part of YouTube we all know and love…” – (Brett Hancock)
The Sarcastic…
- “wow, and I actually thought I was the only one who attached poles to my crotch, and randomly thrusted at shit” – (breelovesmcrr)
- “Why do i feel like putting on spandex and listening to kenny g”
- “Not a fuck was given that day” – (Zeatrix Antheria)
The Traumatised…
- “Is this the sequel to Clockwork Orange?” – (Ape6390)
- “Dafuq did I just watch?” – (zerockar)
- “That’s enough internet for today.” – (Amy-Lee Deery)
Finally we have…
The Worryingly Aroused
(Those who probably need to ‘get out more’).
- “I masturbated to this a minute ago. I regret nothing” – (Jee Marais)
TIPS FOR MAXIMUM AMUSEMENT
Reaction Video 2: The Weirdest Video You’ll Ever See
I encourage you to watch the performance first and then read the “comments” section in the YouTube video.
Alternatively, record some reaction videos akin to a certain infamous video featuring “Two girls, One Cup”
Vine: Reaction Video 1 Vine: Reaction Video 2
DANCE COMPANY: Compagnie Marie Chouinard
Ww: www.mariechouinard.com
Tw: @mariechouinard
THEATRE: Sadler’s Wells Theatre
Ad: Roseberry Ave, Islington, London, EC1R 4TN (map),
Ww: www.sadlerswells.com
Tw: @Sadlers_Wells
@wilkes888 - London based Food & Drink-o-phile 
[…] disturbing 70′s trips… or those more in tune with the arts… please explain what this Sadler’s Wells performance is trying to tell me… apart from “Drugs are bad… […]
is there anyway or a link that u may have that I could watch the full production? I’m a drama major and is interested in reproducing this material.
thanks in advance.
Not to my knowledge… but try contacting The Sadlers Wells theatre. They might be able to help as the originals are watermarked by them so I suspect a copy is available somewhere!