In 'Ruckus', the latest offering from Metal Rabbit Productions, audiences are thrust into the turbulent life of 28-year-old primary school teacher Lou as she falls victim to a slippery slope of coercive control from a lover. With a powerful performance and innovative production elements, this one-woman thriller offers a poignant portrait of how love can eventually turn into manipulation. This show was brilliant, bold and captivating.
Right at the beginning, suspenseful music starts playing and sets an eerie tone for Lou’s story against graphics that are equal parts intriguing and horrifying. You can tell that whatever is about to happen will surely be scary and also pretty much unpredictable.
Every minute spent in Lou’s recollection pulls viewers deeper into her world, uncovering Ryan’s chilling plan with heart-pounding storytelling and intimate detail. She shows you all the subtle signs that she missed when falling for Ryan. All the red flags.
The actor brings different characters to the fore— such as the manipulative Ryan and supportive friend Jess — all so seamlessly that every interaction they have serves as a reminder for how subtle coercive control can be. This is done with chilling precision.
In turn, this prompts viewers to reflect on the insidious nature of such control and to scan their own experiences for any overlooked warning signs.
Colour and light play a vital role in the telling of this tale as well; they’re both used in ways that communicate the shifting dynamics between Lou and Ryan. Moments with ominous hues at red or purple signify danger, while sporadic bursts of brightness offer hope in what seems like a running nightmare. With a simple change in hue or brightness, it perfectly conveyed how powerful emotions can shift and change in their dynamics within a relationship.
Though moments like these create anticipation for future developments, some scenes could have been better served if silence was used to drive home their emotional impact, in between the harrowing reenactments of coercion which writer Jenna Fincken played out on stage. A break from sound would also allow time for reflection on what has already happened.
Despite this minor drawback, the North Wall Centre presentation of 'Ruckus' is nothing short of thought-provoking. The highly-talented performer paired with an innovative team made it look easy to make an audience second-guess relationships they’ve had before. Their haunting story leaves you no choice but to face harsh realities about controlling behaviour that lurk behind closed doors.
All wrapped in suspense, this dark tale of a love story gone wrong will give anyone who watches it goosebumps.