DAZZLING ACCOMPLISHMENT CLEVERLY LACED WITH TRUE THEATRE |
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) conceived and devised by the Fuse Circus cast directed by Willem Wassenaar at Victoria Square, Christchurch From 23 Jan 2009 to 31 Jan 2009 Reviewed by Lindsay Clark, 25 Jan 2009 |
With the Buskers' Festival in full swing' audiences can afford to be ruthlessly selective as to where they lean or recline. To the credit of this enterprising group of circus acrobat-artists from Wellington (lucky Wellington), the big lawn was comfortably full for the performance I attended. Slow to respond to the initial warm up exercise, the audience pretty soon settled to rapt attention.
The notion of a voyage sets the scene for adventures in the 'sails' and crow's nest very neatly and the soaring figures framed by the stage structure against a background of green summer willows are a captivating prospect. At some stage as the minutes pass, the impossible, gravity -defying acts seem less remarkable but the verve and nerve of the five performers is unmistakable.
Their success lies as much in their theatricality as in their extraordinary physicality. For a start there is only the lowly cabin boy preparing the Dry Rot for departure but once he has succeeded in ringing the ship's bell (way up in the sky somewhere and with one foot), a lusty ' All aboard', is given. This brings the rest on deck and the voyage in search of new worlds is underway.
Of course the focus is squarely on aerial feats, augmented by some fine balance and hoop work, but there is also room for lightly sketched characterisation and dramatic make believe. For example a storm brings opportunities for controlled mayhem and the idea of treasure at the end of the hour sets of another round of joyous abandon.
The overwhelming impression they leave is of a group cleverly lacing dazzling accomplishment in the air with something more akin to true theatre, for they claim more than our fascinated gaze. In playing so wholeheartedly from their imagination they invite a response in kind.
Let us hope they come south again.
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