One The Bear Analysis

One the Bear, presented by the La Boite Theatre Company and written by Candy Bowers, is a production that aims to explore the themes of identity, friendship, exploitation and cultural appropriation. The production also emphasises the grim reality that is the discrimination and oppression minorities experience, due to the inability of others to accept the differences within these groups of people. Although One the Bear effectively implemented Elements of Drama to communicate an intended dramatic meaning that explores the toxicity of losing yourself and your roots and the journey of finding your pathway home, the production seemingly didn’t incorporate the generic Conventions of Political Theatre as effectively.
In the opening scene of the show, audiences are transported to an alternate universe, and introduced to the two main characters, One and Ursula, brown bear best-friends that spend their days avoiding being captured by the Hunters and harvested for their bile. With a stage set-up consisting of urban paraphernalia, garbage skips and rocks, it establishes the situation in which the pair have found themselves in due to the …show more content…
Despite the strain in their relationship, Ursula assists One in finding her purpose again, repairing their relationship. Shared between the pair is a handshake that involves a nose flick at the end, which was a symbolic movement of their bear pride. As a result of One losing herself in the glitz and glory of fame, she ended alternating her appearance through plastic surgery, leaving her with a nose that resembles a human nose. The alternation of her nose acts as a symbol, as well as a reminder, of One losing herself. As she was manipulated by the grasps of fame, she ended up erasing a part of her that represented her roots, and she is no longer able to celebrate her bear pride as she could