Presented by Restless Dance
Reviewed Saturday 13th November 2010
Venue: The Opera Studio, State Opera of South Australia, 216 Marion Rd Netley SA 5037
Season: daytime:12.30pm: Tuesday 16 – Thursday 18 & Saturday 20 November, evenings: 8.00pm: Thursday 18 – Saturday 20 November
Duration: 1hr
Tickets: adult $25/conc $20/ Groups (6+) $15
Bookings: Restless Dance 8212 8495, VISA or MASTERCARD accepted
This production is a day in the park, condensed into sixty magical minutes, starting with the lunchtime picnic and ending with everybody tucked up in their sleeping bags for the night. Director, Philip Channells, who is making his debut with the company, has created a rich visual treat that takes us back in time to when families did things together. The set design, by Gaelle Mellis, is a large area of turf, with the family Combi van parked at one end, the picnic table beside it for the older members of the group and the younger ones sitting on rugs around the park. David Gadsden’s lighting clearly depicts the various parts of the day, from lunchtime brightness, to the glow of sunset with its long shadows, through dusk to night.
This provides a superb setting in which the performance takes place, accompanied by a varying collection of musicians under the musical direction of Hilary Kleinig on cello and electric piano, with her fellow Zephyr Quartet member, Emily Tulloch, on violin as the only other constant member of the orchestra. The changing size and composition of the orchestra creates a range of textural possibilities that, along with an eclectic mix of music, adds to the interest of the work. Kleinig composed some of the music, although there are also some familiar pieces in the score.
This picnic is followed by games, such as quoits and hopscotch, organised races, such as sack, three-legged and wheelbarrow races, then arguments and scuffles over who won. Eventually dancing becomes the main activity with everybody joining in for a jig, all whirling around and having great fun and including a well-played bodhrán solo. A couple start a Viennese Waltz, offering some elegant movements as they use every bit of the space, giving way to the rest of the party joining in. More fun follows but, eventually, as evening falls tiredness sets in, and sleep inevitably follows.
Along the way there is just so much to watch as there are many elements to the performance happening all over the park at all times, small interactions and major actions occur simultaneously, alliances change, little squabbles break out and subside and parents and grandparents step in from time to time to take control. This is a delightful performance by a very committed group of people from 6 to 66 years of age. Not only is it about families, performed by people including family members, but it is an ideal show for family audiences.
The warmth of the performers for one another, and their sharing with the audience, coupled with their exuberance and pleasure in performing make this a wonderful way to spend an evening.
Reviewed by Barry Lenny, Arts Editor, Glam Adelaide.
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