MeTube
Written by Rachel Havrelock
Directed by Rachel Havelrock, John Wilson
Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee (map)
thru April 8 | tickets: $15-$20 | more info
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Technically strong but emotionally weak
Collaboraction presents
MeTube
Review by Lauren Whalen
As the old saying goes, everyone gets 15 minutes of fame. It’s a heady sensation, but what happens in minute 16? Is it possible to reconcile art and commerce? Is it even desirable? Yuri Lane’s one-man show MeTube explores these questions with a technologically deft and energetic hand, but in a lightning-quick 60 minutes, fails to elicit audience empathy or fully probe even one of the many issues that comes with instant,
Lane, an acclaimed beatboxer and musician, tells his story as he experienced it: at one point, he had the number one video on YouTube. But what exactly does that mean for his livelihood and career? Everyone has their own ideas, from the producers of the “Ellen” show to Yuri’s creative and impoverished father (who encourages his son to win “the million dollars” on reality TV) to Yuri’s own ego, sporting a Kangol hat and cocky attitude to match. As he attends Google summits with Bono and puts himself at the mercy of Sharon Osbourne and Howie Mandel, Yuri wonders how exactly he got to this place and why Internet fame has come to matter so much.
Conceived and co-directed by Lane’s wife Rachel Havrelock, MeTube sets up fascinating and relevant talking points: how does one capitalize on sheer popularity that hasn’t been fully monetized? Or does making a living negate the art in the first place? Must one be “starving” to be a true artist? Unfortunately, MeTube doesn’t quite follow through. Attempts at exploring these issues often come off cliché and shallow: yes, we know Hollywood is a dysfunctional environment that’s gotten even weirder with the advent of televised “reality”. Yes, money and family are extremely complex subjects, especially put together. Yes, specialized talent can be very difficult to market. Nothing new is being said here – at least, not in an original way.
And that’s a shame, because they don’t come more original than Lane. The man’s natural exuberance and musical genius emanate from his pores, whether he’s sliding his sneakers along the stage as if walking on air, or making sounds with his mouth that defy human ability. Lane believes in his art and its powerful effect on spectators, those in a chair five feet away and those watching a screen halfway across the globe. He’s impressive, he works extremely hard, he is a one man orchestra, punk band and dance troupe. In turn, MeTube ’s production elements are stellar. Co-directors Havrelock and John Wilson have assembled a crack team of designers as well as lending their own expertise (Havrelock collaborates with Lane on all his works, Wilson is a Jeff-nominated scenic designer). Videos come to life projected on the walls, vocals harmonize with Lane’s live sounds, and Jeremy Getz’s lighting is basic but exciting, never taking away from the real spectacle: Lane himself.
It’s unfortunate that MeTube never finds a middle ground. The performer and production values are stellar; the story not so much. While I appreciate Lane’s struggles and his phenomenal talent, at no point did I deeply care about what he was going through. Gasps of appreciation and raucous applause at vocal and technical feats are all well and good, but in the case of MeTube, without substance there isn’t much to sustain.
Rating: ★★½
MeTube continues through April 8th at Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee #336 (map), with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays 7pm. Tickets are $15-$20, and are available online at force.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at Collaboraction.org. (Running time: 60 minutes with no intermission)
