At just eleven and a half minutes, this satirical musical by Haddon Kime is a quick diversion on YouTube from the Atlanta-based company Out of Hand.
Created on Zoom and presented as one of those earnest self-help classes which deal with everyday stress, Lag: a Zoomsical Comedy features instructor Minka Wiltz and her soaring voice bringing hope and serenity to attendees Rhyn Saver (bubbling with frustration in her car), Googie Uterhardt, and Trevor Rayshay Perry.
We have all had to learn to both manage the uncertainty and frustration of lockdown, as well as dealing with the subtleties of interacting via a screen which is prone to freezing, lagging, dropping out and more. This is well encapsulated in this piece, with the added bonus of song as the quartet “inhale and exhale”.
Lockdown has brought out the best and worst of all of us, and Lag shows us the reality of enforced close company (children, dogs, irritating spouses, boredom). This is the first piece I’ve seen from the USA which tackles this, and although inevitably ephemeral, it has enough here to entertain, and Kime (who directs as well as writing and composing) wears all his hats with style.
