Curious, engaging and entertaining, En Haut is a wild ride
Presented by: Jasper
Reviewed: 21 February, 2025
Curious, engaging and entertaining, En Haut is a wild ride. Performed by Jasper, the performer emerges into the world from a giant egg with a clear intention to discover the world he has unexpectedly found his way into.
Shortly after his journey from birth to full freedom, he immediately attempts to commune with the closest living thing, the audience. At multiple stages of the show, Jasper is joined by a quartet of Georgian choral music singers which adds a mysterious depth to the show. Wearing a costume that can only be surmised as egg whites would leave this reviewer to suspect that Jasper himself is the yoke. With some clear but subtle religious themes, it is unclear if Jasper is retelling the journey of Christ or simply emphasising that birth is an almost religious like experience that is to be respected as almost holy. A frequent call to the heavens is more compelling than you would expect.
As it goes, clowning performances are occasionally difficult to review. They can have opaque storylines, somewhat experimental elements and for some more discerning members of the audience, the boundaries the performers will go to are beyond the levels of adventure that some punters are used to. Whilst En Haut (which translates to ‘at the top’) fills some of those factors, without question it is an excellent show. Jasper did a fantastic job whilst contending with the endless ringing of the bells from the adjacent church, which did add another feature to his birth story. It is very funny, he is exceptionally skilled and for those who are willing to step into a less than conventional theatrical experience, they will thoroughly enjoy themselves.
Reviewed by Simon Lancione
Venue: The Vault at Fool’s Paradise
Season: 20 – 23 February, 2025
Duration: 60min
Tickets: FP: $40 Con: $35 Family: $128 Child: $ 30
Bookings: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/en-haut-up-up-up-up-up-af2025
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