Kitty: Scary review about meat, pornography and social fears

Kitty: Scary review about meat, pornography and social fears

As part of the Vienna Festival Weeks, the provocative piece “Kitty” is being performed today in Hall G of the Museumsquartier. The direction and text come from the award-winning playwright and director Satoko Ichihara, who has led the theater group Q since 2011 and whose works address human behavior and the discomfort associated with it. The performance runs in Japanese, Korean and Cantonese with German and English surtitles and has a running time of around 100 minutes.

At the center of “Kitty” is the main character, the “Scorpion Girl,” who stands out for her human appearance, while her family is depicted with oversized, cat-like faces. The style chosen by Ichihara includes elements such as exaggeration and eerie comedy, which, together with a physically intensive revue performance, are intended to captivate the audience. The characters mainly communicate using gestures, while the girl's voice can be heard offscreen.

Provocative topics and critical reflection

The piece deals with explosive topics such as meat consumption, prostitution, the objectification of women and the treatment of animals, and links these with motifs from profit and pornography. The plot follows the “Scorpio Girl” who gets caught up in the porn industry and wants to escape with a “flesh person”. An accompanying animation visualizes the events on the “Apple Star”, where vegetarianism and cannibalism are the focus.

The production received mixed reviews. Some reviewers describe the work as overloaded and disjointed, with the constant exaggerations sometimes found to be tiring. Despite these tensions, the fascination with Ichihara's unique creative language and its level of expression is highlighted. Another highlight of the evening are the available keychains depicting the characters in the play, which can be purchased in the foyer.

Further performances and cultural context

In addition to today's performance, additional performances of "Kitty" are scheduled for May 26 and 27 at 8:30 p.m. The Vienna Festival Weeks thus open up a space for critical discussions of current social issues. In a similar context, Spiel.Werk Ansbach, which is showing a contemporary dance theater piece entitled “This is my City” from September 23rd to 26th, also focuses on citizens' perspectives on urban spaces. This combination of dance, acting and acrobatics underlines the importance of the art and culture scene in today's society.

For more information about the festival weeks and other events, it is recommended to regularly visit the websites of the respective institutions.