1 Hour Photo by Tetsuro Shigematsu: Remembering Canada’s Complex History ~ Adelaide Fringe 2022 Review

[THEATRE and PHYSICAL THEATRE/Film ~ AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE ~ CANADA] Ruby’s at Holden Street Theatres, Wed 16 Feb. Complementing the live theatre at Holden Street Theatres during the Fringe there is also an On Screen Program, consisting of four productions from the 2021 Edinburgh Fringe which have been filmed, and are being presented under the collective title East Van To Adelaide, on a large 75inch screen in an intimate 10-seat cinema lounge. One of these, 1 Hour Photo is a one man play from Canada performed by writer Tetsuro Shigematsu, who presents with all the charisma of a theatre magician, moving enthusiastically around the stage to demonstrate some great technological developments of the 20th Century, as background to the story he is about to reveal. It is easy to imagine how effective this would be if you were with him in the room. On screen it is a little stilted, as the play has been written for stage not film, but we get the idea. And Tetsuro has an interesting story to tell. 1 Hour Photo follows the fortunes of Mas Yamamoto, who like thousands of Japanese Canadians found himself interned as an enemy alien following Pearl Harbour. Teenage Mas found his schooling curtailed in lieu of carrying lumber and pounding spikes on train tracks. Despite this he eventually resumed studies, gaining a PhD and becoming a research scientist. Changing direction Mas opened a camera store Japan Camera which had the first one-hour photofinishing lab in North America – hence the play’s title. Mas was still alive at the time the play was written, so Tetsuro was able to record his voice and he uses a vinyl recording to allow Mas to tell some of his story himself. Mas’s enthusiasm for his life, family and work leap out of the recording. Tetsuro’s use of technology includes shown footage of Mas’s daughter Naomi Yamamoto delivering a speech of apology to the interned Japanese Canadians in her role as the Minister of Advanced Education in the British Columbian government! The full circle has turned! It would be fabulous to see Tetsuro perform this play in the flesh, but in the meantime we can appreciate that these new works are still able to be seen. And if you are not yet ready to face a full auditorium, check out the East Van To Adelaide season at Holden Street’s intimate cinema lounge! 4 stars Adrian Miller 1 Hour Photo continues at Ruby’s at Holden Street Theatres, at various times, until Sun 20 Mar. Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets. #ClotheslineMag #ADLfringe #HST