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The Auckland Pride Festival is in full swing in its second week and in the event you’re going out to see a factor or two (or learn, watch, hearken to – there’s a good looking array of actions in this system this yr), you may’t go previous this gem going down on the Basement Theatre. Man Lessons, carried out by Adam Rohe (he/him), combines a documentary six years within the making with stay story-telling, to take us by means of the method and journey of transitioning. Rohe’s pure aahua and humour units a welcoming tone earlier than he navigates the viewers by means of a really private, introspective, and confronting journey. He even anchors the second utilizing a waka as a metaphor.
Ben is joined on stage by documentary maker Ben Sarten (they/them), who movies the present and sometimes turns into concerned with the storytelling. Using solely two automotive seats put collectively like seats in a theatre, a projector display screen, and Ben’s digital camera, we’re already immersed within the documentary as it’s taking place, and we get a way that Adam remains to be within the midst of all of it.
Adam paints an image of the essential folks and occasions in his life by means of anecdotes and candid footage from the present documentary. At first it appears Adam’s shut buddies on display screen are impossibly comfy with the digital camera, however that may communicate to Ben’s skill to seize the proper moments. The footage is rigorously edited to present us morsels of their lives, and who they’re, whereas nonetheless leaving room for us to interpret and take into consideration the folks on display screen. After the introductions, Adam tacks on, virtually as a throwaway, that the story is about his transition as a trans man. The vital position the folks round him play within the story is put to the fore, which turns into a method of claiming, “there’s more to the story than just me.”
And there’s a lot to the story. Sometimes Adam jumps forward in time to speak a couple of pivotal second in his journey – which turns into a barrage of overwhelming data, however then backtracks to interrupt it down. This is reflective of the deconstructive and analysing tone that underpins the present, and in addition the chaotic nature of venturing into an unknown world. These moments start to feed right into a harrowing a part of the journey as Adam heads in the direction of psychosis. Sometimes, he offers us fables or allegories to assist us delve deeper into his inside world.
You can inform the present has had time to mature in its concepts and storytelling. The entire venture was initially solely going to be a documentary, earlier than it advanced into this stay part starting in 2021. The present went by means of a devising course of with Neenah Dekkers-Reihana and dramaturg Eve Gordon, earlier than taking part in in Wellington and Whangārei. Sarten can also be nearing the top of the filming course of, and I do know audiences will stay up for the function size doco within the close to future. Adam has put a variety of work into discovering truths in his journey, and determining the way to relay the trustworthy fact to the viewers. At occasions, even reluctantly, for instance, when Adams offers the viewers the story across the bodily facets of transitioning – “because that’s what people want to know”.
The story is essentially a psychological one which grows to an emotional crescendo. We are given a multifaceted journey into the thoughts of somebody studying to change into who they’re, once they’ve been instructed all their life that they’re not that individual. All whereas attempting to keep up a relationship, develop as an actor on the stage of the Pop Up Globe, or contending with the complicated expertise of taking part in a job in The Vagina Monologues.
Man Lessons is a compelling and trustworthy look into the lifetime of Adam Rohe. There is a superb breadth of story to be instructed right here that covers years within the making, however the chosen components come collectively in a transferring and emotional piece of documentary theatre. I believe anybody seeking to perceive, know extra about, or be supported by means of transitioning will discover the story useful.
Man Lessons performs Basement Theatre 7-11 February 2023 as a part of Auckland Pride.
This evaluation is a part of the Auckland Pride Review Project – a collaborative venture between 4 native publications (The Pantograph Punch, Bad Apple Gay, Rat World and Theatre Scenes) to offer extra vital discourse round queer theatre and efficiency work. We can be reviewing a spread of reveals all through the month of Pride – so maintain a glance out and go help our native queer performers!