Wittgenstein suggested a work of philosophy could consist entirely of jokes.
Can a piece of theatre consist entirely of questions?
Written and performed by Shay Debney, Do You Mind? is such an attempt.
The script is beautifully whimsical and very funny. It allows Debney to showcase his extraordinary linguistic and vocal skills and his delightful physical comedy.
Recently I wrote, that to be left with questions is exactly what I want from a piece of theatre … so how can I not be satisfied with this?
Some of the questions Debney poses to the audience are simply about our personal tastes or experiences. Other questions are the equivalent of a Zen koan, joyful little puzzles that tease us out of complacency. (They’re of the family of – but not including – What is the sound of one hand clapping?)
We live in the Age of Assertion and Grand Theory. Everyone seems to know the answer to everything. Certainty is now equated with commitment. A piece of theatre that reminds us of the value of the question is a rejuvenating antidote to this dullness of mind.
Questions help us dig deeper, to see that things may not be as simple and flat as we’d lazily like them to be. We reanimate our world through questions. Questions are how we unwrap the gift that is Life.
Not that Debney’s questions are what most people would call political: they’re impishly playful.
Since we’re on the topic of questions, you might ask this question: Can a show like this – one that doesn’t construct a traditional character and which eschews a traditional narrative arc – is this a show capable of retaining my attention? At just under an hour, the experiment is exactly the right length. Director Julia Robertson masterfully creates changes of pace and pleasing variations of texture. And, anyway, Debney has such a warm, vibrant stage presence that we’re keen to stay for the ride.
(I’ve got to note that it’s refreshing to see a one-person show that’s not autobiographical. In shows in which an actor talks about themselves, I often have to fight the temptation to suggest that the size of the cast directly correlates with the level of interest the play is capable of generating.)
For theatre nerds, Do You Mind? also poses intriguing questions about form.
Peppered with questions delivered in direct address, the audience of which I was a part seemed uncertain when (or whether) they were expected to provide answers. (In conventional question/answer format: Q. Is there audience participation? A. Only if you want there to be.)
But what this mischievous little show does is illuminate the strange miracle that is art. Every single piece of theatre ever made is created by both the artist and the audience. However, we tend to privilege the first of these two. If you think my choice of the word privilege is perverse, just try putting on a show in your room by yourself and see if you don’t come to feel that the audience is every bit as important as you. A show like this spotlights the agency of those who attend.
By focussing on the magic of the question – questions of all types – this little show is a glorious gift, a reminder of the childlike wonder to be found in the choice to be forever unwrapping.
Paul Gilchrist
Do You Mind? by Shay Debney
at the Old Fitz, as a late show, until April 27
Image by Julia Robertson
Theatre Red 
Beautiful! Thanks for writing deeply and intelligently about theatre and in a way that makes the reader want to see every work and reminds us to appreciate the magic made every time on stage!
Thanks so much for reading! Beautiful theatre makes beautiful responses easy!