Review: (Toronto) MSM

                                                       (photo by Alejandro Santiago)

MSM A Great Achievement
by Beat Rice

Premiering last summer at the Toronto Fringe, MSM has been remounted into a full production at the Winchester Street Theatre for World Pride 2014. The show is a physical exploration of the world of online interactions of Gay men. Behind the profile pictures and abbreviated instant message jargon, there is desperation, desire, adventure and misadventure.

This brave project, conceived by Indrit Kasapi has eight males in the cast, accompanied by DJ John Caffery who mixes some incredible beats. The never-ending house music provides a pulsating energy that also underscores some text: through the piece we hear actual profiles and chats presented as monologues and dialogue.  These things are always more hilarious read aloud. Having an online presence often encourages one to be extremely straightforward about their wants and needs. The ‘forum’ provides one less barrier in meeting new people, and the context for chatting is predetermined as soon as you log in. Having a Username provides anonymity and mystery, which can double as a turn on and also something to hide behind.

review: (Toronto) MSM - Men Seeking Men (Fringe)

Indrit Kasapi (concept and direction)

Dating through dance: A cynic’s guide

The world of online hook-ups has never seemed more honest – or ugly

by Christian Baines

@XtianBaines

A movement piece about an activity that no longer requires us to move, MSM (Men Seeking Men) explores the murky, degrading world of online Gay dating. And it doesn’t get much murkier than what’s currently rotating on stage at the Randolph Theatre.

No, really. If there’s a piece of theatre that leaves its audience wanting to destroy the Internet in a blaze of righteous, old-school fire, MSM is probably it. Ugly, mechanical and profoundly – one supposes, deliberately – unerotic, it shows the sheer indignity of what we often subject ourselves to in the world of digital dating (that extends to you, Grindr and co!).