Freshly Squeezed

A fun exciting show at PACT
http://www.sydneyartsguide.com/View-Review.asp?ReviewID=1273

Exciting experimental theatre, FRESHLY SQUEEZED The dominant theme this year was a fantasy tropical island , so for the fun pre-show entertainment ( great dancing and singing ) the cast , moving around and interacting with the audience ,were in hula skirts , wore sea shell bras, inflatable floaties at their elbows, or were dressed as sailors. The cast were terrific and the audience was treated to four exciting short pieces .In the outside ‘foyer, whilst we were waiting, there was an undercover tent like structure of ‘sails’ where the audience was encouraged to sit and look up at the bubbling water video effect. When the show proper began we were welcomed and then divided into two groups, red or green according to ticket colour. If you were a ‘green’ like me, you had to wait outside a little longer. Eventually we were lead inside and the marvellous ‘Cabana Club Dancers’ performed a  short witty take off of ‘Island’ dancing , with fun masks , Dame Edna glasses etc . We were then beckoned closer and informed we were going on a ‘treasure hunt’ and led single file into the dark environs of the theatre proper . We paused and encouraging notes were passed around (‘ almost there’…). ‘Scattered’ was mostly gentle but at times challenging. The set mainly featured a plain white projection screen and what seemed to be a large pile of crumpled paper. There is no dialogue in this work but much use is made of post it notes and projections. We are all seated by a lovely young lady in white and there are various notes like ‘you are here’ etc . We are welcomed and then the crumpled pile of paper is removed to reveal a flautist. There was interaction between the two cast members and audience and then suddenly a huge hand (on the projection screen) takes over and the two cast members are tossed and rolled by the hand, which attempts to dominate both. Eventually we are led to another section of PACT just behind us and are also reunited with the ‘red’ members of the audience for the next work – ‘Capital i’ , which was at times disturbing and threatening. As the program notes say, the performers were interested in creating ‘an other worldly space’ , a parallel dimension in which the inner workings of the digital realm are made visible, tangible yet still ethereal .The struggle between different forces in computing terms ( ie hacking , viruses piracy and their counterpoints is explored through notions of mysticism , possession and binary opposites . The lighting made effective use of UV lighting for the costumes and makeup – the dancers wore black outfits with green or orange strips that glowed, and heavy swirling red paint on their faces in death like masks. Their performance started as an emphatic solo then developed into a chilling sculptural trio – messengers of death? They stalked the stage threatening the audience then disappeared with a snap .Blackout. The end of the work is where a huge face is projected on screen , Kabuki like in an ominous threatening mask of makeup , repeatedly reciting a mantra of zero and one  - are computers taking over the universe ? I didn’t quite ‘get ‘ the short interlude piece of the ‘three fates’ , at first sexy and tempting then eating watermelon and the watermelon fight but it was fun  and the audience loved it . ‘Kumkum’ the final piece, was excellent. Raghav Handa , performer and choreographer, has created a proud, passionate solo that fuses contemporary dance with Indian and Bangarra like styles in a most exciting mix. There were also hints of Nijinksi’s ‘Afternoon of A Faun ‘ at times . The dominant colour towards the end was blood red – the blood of the land? The blood of humanity? While Handa was dancing there was a terrific performance by cellist Alli Sebastian Wolf , who had her back to the audience , wearing a very long train draped from the headpiece she wore . The lighting/video work by Jacqui Mills was most effective and atmospheric. A most exciting, at times startling and challenging programme. Four ‘works in progress’ that I would like to see more of. FRESHLY SQUEEZED, with a performance running time  of 90 minutes straight through, played at the PACT Theatre, Erskineville the 19th and 20th October, 2012. © Lynne Lancaster 23rd October, 2012 Tags: Sydney Theatre Reviews- FRESHLY SQUEEZED, PACT Theatre Erskineville, Sydney Arts Guide, Lynne Lancaster.