Upside Down Fantasyland theatre review: Beauty in the darkness
Troy Rogers delivers a raw, cathartic performance blending song, slam poetry and storytelling
The tall, well-dressed figure of Troy Rogers emerges slowly from the darkness. When the spotlight shines upon him, he starts singing and the room is filled with a torrent of emotions. It is as raw as it is shockingly brutal, as moving as it is expressive. Rogers lays himself bare, encapsulating his life through prose, song, slam poetry and dramatic storytelling.
While strong in its themes, this show remains poetic in its style of light and love and never intends to create negative reflection. Through his inward journey, Rogers uses his story as a way to show that healing is possible. He physically feels and relives the emotions and pain. It's in your face. It’s loud, gritty and sad. Rogers is not just performing for an audience; he’s healing. He shows you that the messiness of emotions is real and significant. Not once does he lose his flow, pacing himself with just enough time between each section so we can all take a breath.
This performance sets itself apart from any genre: it is a delicate and cathartic expression of life layered perfectly with sound, lighting and atmosphere. Every word Rogers says seeps through the skin, attaches to the heart and nestles itself deep within the psyche in a beautiful way. Rogers shows us there is beauty in pain, but what is even more prominent is the beauty in hope, too. The darkness makes the light more meaningful.
Upside Down Fantasyland concluded at The Studio in Holden Street Theatres on March 15.