FRINGE REVIEW: Rock out with Ragnarøkkr
St John Cowcher has a reputation as one of Perth's most artistically ambitious performers. As a founding member of The Last Great Hunt he has contributed to truly innovative shows that have had the Perth theatre-going community raving. His independent show, Ragnarøkkr premiered at the Blue Room on Wednesday night (January 29) and held all the promise of a banging show. References to Bowie and Tom Waits seemed to guarantee quality tunes, and the premise - a rock musical adaptation of the Norse myth of Ragnarøkkr, centring the irreverent Loki, felt subversive and fun.
For those not familiar with the story, Ragnarokk is the Norse prediction for the end of times. In it the world is destroyed, good and evil fight to the death and nothing is left behind. As in many other cultures, when Christianity was introduced to the Vikings a rebirth followed, but before then the world just - died. Ragnarokkr chooses the hope of regeneration over the nihilism of nothingness in a statement which mirrors our current social climate. Indeed, after the audience applause the cast returns to give a short message on climate change, particularly the need to rethink funding sources for the arts.
Loki has the redeeming quality of holding a genuine affection for his children, the wolf Fenrir and the serpent Jormangund. These characters are brought to life through the music of the relentlessly impressive drummer Gracie Smith and guitarist Joe Paradise Lui. Joe deserves every single nice thing that has ever been said about him - he is not only a talented performer, but has been instrumental in providing support behind the scenes in many Blue Room productions.
This rock musical would be great staged at someplace like Rosemount’s 459 Bar - somewhere the audience can cut loose to the tracks, while being intimate enough to command attention to the storyline. As it was we often felt confined to our seats, envious of Loki’s freedom to dance shirtless around the stage.
3.5 stars out of 5
