REVIEW: Snoligoster, Amanda Grace, The Space ★★★★

Please ensure that all arms, legs, and personal belongings remain in your seat. You wouldn’t want to get them snapped at by the creature that Florida’s outreach team has brought us to answer the question ‘Why is Florida so weird’? Snoligoster created by Amanda Grace is a sort of modern day redition of Frankenstein but concentrating more on if the monster was given a chance to self actualise and refelect on the kind of creature they want to be.

We’re told to treat this like entertainment. Presented in the way of a tour like how one would expect a universal tour in Orlando to go, or maybe how we would be shown Jurassic Park in another dimension if that actually took place. Ripped from their home in Florida, the Snoligoster is being paraded in London. A legend that appears to be mostly forgotten about. Once told by ‘the men outside it’s cages’ that they were doing the right things, now they are reduced to be an abhorrent display for our amusement. We’re shown the skills this creature has, the ability to communicate, to be creative, even to speak. We’re shown these skills the way a lion tamer guides the lion through the hoop. These invisible strings are being pulled. Hateful political messages, anti LGBTQIA+ rhetoric, pro life propoganda, that the Snoligoster regurgitates and is praised for. Only for when the audience leaves and be reminded of their unappealing nature. The Snoligoster fixes that, eating the tour guide. We’re finally alone with them and we can finally learn exactly who this creature is.

This play goes in a million directions, but it never feels directionless. A true testament to Amanda Grace as a performer. She’s rooted in everything she does. From the moments of comedy to the moments of reflection. She ends up taking the role of our guide. The themes throughout could easily become heavy handed but she handles them with such authenticity, that everything flows effortlessly as a response. We talk about religious indoctrination one moment, to the devastating events at Pulse nightclub in Florida the next, all centered within this mythological creature who was once rooted in Florida’s history with slavery. All of this was done within a 45 minute show with the themes and ideas never feeling rushed.

There’s a big focus on this question about ‘Why is Florida a weird place?” within the show and the hook for it’s advertising. We start the show with a reel of comedians joking about Florida, quotes that fit into this narrative of the stereotype of Florida being a ‘weird place’. Snoligaster explores this further, later showing us headlines with the famous “Florida man…” asking us to work out if these are real or fake, outlandish actions that make a British audience gasp and guffaw over. They were of course, all real. It’s a great comedic start and it really lures us in, cleverly playing on our British smugness. The idea that these events are all so radical that they couldn’t possibly happen here. The sad reality is, once we start getting further into the play and the story switches to these conversations about events such as Pulse or the shooting of Trayvon Martin, those aren’t really too dissimilar to the political climate of how things are going in the UK. The question of the show then turns from “Why is Florida a weird place”? to “What are we going to do about this”?

Something that needs to be commended in addition to the story is it’s use of accesibility as another form of story telling. We are given captions throughout that play above us the whole time but equally its woven into the story at various other points, such as when The Snoligoster wants to mind link with us. The captions never feel like a tick box or an afterthought. Its used from the very second the show starts to when the show ends. The captions even allow for futher expression like when the Snoligoster does their ‘monster voice’ and they change colour and shape. It was such a wonderful addition that just allowed it to highten the story that little bit extra and allow anyone who is in need of this service to feel more a part of the story.

I would have loved to have a few extra moments of this being specifically used with the mind link feature, because that was such a surprise and really allowed us to connect with Snoligoster. I think replicating it later after establishing that connection with us in a different form, where Snoligoster was unable to verablise their thoughts after everything they’ve learnt, so instead allowed us to read their thoughts would have been a great way to push that idea further if we’re thinking about captions as an extension to the story but regardless it was wonderfully done throughout.

With its authenticity, the charm of this show will have you coming back to it’s themes time after time. The Snoligoster is reminder of what we could be, who we should be and what we can leave behind in time. Always striving for us to be more and paving the way for the level of inclusivity we should be striving for in our art.

Recommended Drink: A shot of wheat grass for that swampy goodness.

Performances of Snoligoster have now finished but you can catch an on-demand access to the recording of the online livestream via The Space website. Book for 23:59 on the 31st and you will be able to access this recording until this point. In keeping with the tone of the show ticket prices for this performance are Pay What You Choose.

After each show, company members were selling glitter stickers collecting mutual aid for two
grassroots social justice organisations doing the real work in Florida to make the swamp a better place. If you would like to know more about either organisations or donate they are:

SWAN (Stand With Abortion Now) of Orlando
https://www.swanoforlando.org/

Stand with Abortion Now (S.W.A.N.) is a grassroots organization established in June of 2022 directly after the destruction of Roe vs Wade by the fascist Supreme Court. S.W.A.N. exists solely to protect and expand abortion access within Central Florida. We are explicitly anti-fascist, anti-racist, anti-sexist, pro-LGBTQ, and class conscious.

The Queer Trans Project
https://queertransproject.org/

The Queer Trans Project is a Black-led and Trans-led organization in Jacksonville, Florida. Our mission is dedicated to providing gender-affirming resources to empower queer and trans individuals nationwide, equipping them with the confidence and power to drive social change in their communities. We center on urgently delivering essential supplies and assistance to help combat dysphoria and promote dignified, safe,
private, and empowered living.