At Earthfall |
| Earthfall- At Swim Two Boys , Chapter Arts Centre Cardiff , June 16, 2005 |
| Whilst there is a clear narrative line throughout the production, based on the two main characters in Jamie O’Neill’s award winning novel of the same name, and much of the skilful back projection places the action in the context of the Easter Rising in Ireland and the first World War, it is the sheer abstract beauty of the choreography, executed so brilliantly by both performers, so subtly enmeshed with the profound musicality of Roger Mills and Frank Naughton, placed in Gerald Tyler’s unique setting with his totally emphatic lighting that overwhelms all our senses in this truly wonderful work of near perfect co-operative art. The stage is a low pool of about three or four inches of water backed by a steel wall with water constantly flowing down it throughout the action. The two boys sit on top of the wall at an iron ladder leading down into the water. Before the first boy reaches the stage we see that there is a delicate and tender love growing between them. When the first dancer hits the water it ripples out all around him catching the light, the first of many ever-repeating beautiful moments. One can almost believe that directors Jim Ennis and Jessica Cohen have such a great understanding of the situation that they are able to choreograph the waves in the sea. We see the relationship grows and the dependency they share strengthen. This emotional drawing of their two hearts together is reflected in the complete physical dependency and total trust that the two dancers must have for each other, as so much of the complex movement calls for strong and reliable mutual support. With the most profound projection of the human spirit Terry Michael and Cai Thomas love and live in dance as many of us might love and live through life. But these are two vigorous young men bursting with joy and life and this they show, creating tremendous excitement in fast moving dance work, at all times enhancing the emotion with the glitter and song of the swirling water often adding a muted trumpet and lyrical guitar. As well as excelling in dance and movement, the two boys are excellent actors they control their feelings, making us aware of their passion without fully embracing it. They go into the sea to swim and even more imaginative, exhilarating and profoundly moving pictures overwhelm our senses. The colour of the back projection intensifies, the strength of their need and dependency deepens. The war imposes; the hurt and the beauty dig deeply into us. Like a many layered universal drama the production is a wide embracing allegory but its greatest achievement is its aesthetic and its Da Vinciesque beauty. Since its inception in 1989 Earthfall has won many awards, made some bold experiments and continue to explore dance theatre in ways that will continue to captivate and surprise us. |
Reviewed by: Michael Kelligan |
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