Argonauts follows two theatre enthusiasts who host a podcast together. The narrative unravels as their relationship enters conflict over differing opinions about a controversial play.
Jéssica Cardia and Thiago Richter star in the experimental and irrepressibly meta play. The passion and commitment of both performances are undeniable. Richter in particular commands the stage with raw emotion, while Cardia moves through the topsy-turvy phases of the narrative with impressive poise.
The pair are, however, let down by an experimental narrative that doesn’t have enough time to become clear. Just as one scene ushers into view, the lights go out and another one emerges, with not enough to hook onto to really appreciate what came before.
Perhaps that’s an intentional move to keep the audience guessing, but removing just a couple of the experimental scenes and keeping the podcasters on stage a little longer might have helped the impactful moments land better.
That said, the set design was very well thought out, leaving the audience in no doubt as to when the pair were podcasting, and when they were embarking on an abstract exploration of theatrical history or analysis.
For an experimental work, the choice to retread the steps at the end of the play with the characters changing actors was a masterstroke, helping to piece together the segments of the narrative that might have escaped viewers so far.
Important and thought-provoking discussions are raised about the position of theatre today, but it often feels as though Argonauts relies too heavily on telling, rather than showing. Admittedly, most festival shows are short on time but, again, honing in on a few choice debates or scenes would have helped this one to breathe a little easier.
While Cardia and Richter have real talent at their fingertips, Argonauts was unfortunately not the best showcase for them. A tighter narrative structure and honed focus would have helped them shine.
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