Karen Houge begins Dreamgirl in a glittering white feather headpiece and silver heels. A burlesque show about our collective mistrust of one another soon gives way to Houge’s interactive recount of her experience travelling with a group of Syrian refugees from Greece to Germany. Although somewhat misjudged, Dreamgirl is undeniably a show full of heart.
As a host, Houge is warm and welcoming. Consistent references to Houge’s own privilege are well-placed and her openness in recounting her experiences is much appreciated. So too is the video footage of her journey, interwoven throughout the show. In this, Houge rightfully refuses to reduce her friends to the stereotypes of refugees favoured by right-wing media.
However, some lived-realities are not best served alongside western-and-white-led humour – albeit with good intent. A table of fruits and vegetables are utilised as a clumsy metaphor for varied nationalities and ethnicities. Building blocks form a lifeboat; the audience are asked to select an individual to be thrown out of it. The discomfort of such set-ups cannot be understated. Props aside, pop songs often take us from one scene to another; this is jarring on both an artistic and emotional level. Although well-meaning, in framing Dreamgirl as a show about trust, Houge inadvertently positions the violent treatment of refugees as an issue of mistrust – which is, ultimately, a troublesome reduction of the matter.
Karen Houge: DREAMGIRL, Underbelly, Cowgate, until 24 Aug (not 12), 8.10pm