Circa's 'S' at Parramatta

This was terrific .Only a very short season unfortunately. Here's my review for Sydney Arts Guide http://www.sydneyartsguide.com.au/s-circa/‘S’ by Circa from Brisbane is Sinuous and Surprising for starters. It combines elements of circus work, dance and physical theatre that are mesmerizing. The Helpmann –award winning show is based on the shape and sound of all sorts of words using the letter ‘S’ including for example ‘Sleep. Snore. Surge. Stretch. Strength. Stability. Song. Soprano. Sinuous. Shadows. Symphony. Spiral. Space. Share. Suspend. Support. Slip. Seamless. Syncopated. Somersault.Spin.Spring. Struggle. Sway. Sizzle. Sound. Strain. Skip. Stacked. Swoop. Swing. Scary. Squish. Solitary. Swivel. Spin. Shimmer. Stamina. Supple. Storm. Survival. Serene. Silhouette. Spotlight. Sinew. Spine. Sweat. Sound. Smile. Strange. Schoolyard. Splash. Spill. Smooth. Straight. Strong.’ As performed by the cast with spectacular, tightly controlled choreography that creates sculpturally symmetrical shapes, twists and curves .Circa has been taking its distinctive style of circus internationally , touring to 28 countries since 2006 and this is part of a national tour. This production demands incredible control from the extraordinary cast of seven (Nathan Boyle, Jessica Connell, Casey Douglas, Daniel O’Brien, Brittannie Portelli, Kimberley Rossi and Duncan West) who are apparently boneless! There is a contortionist segment, tumbling, balancing and aerialist styles all fluidly combined with the grace and highly pointed feet of all the dancers. An incredible feat of hula-hooping is accomplished with intense precision and energy, the blue hoops blurring in an electric swirl. The display of challenging virtuosity goes even higher when her colleagues walk through the torrent of “hula” swirls undamaged. The thrust stage with its special mat surface is mostly clear save for aerialist silks and at one point water bowls. The cast are all in theatrical black – the men topless, the women in beautifully designed leotards created by Libby McDonnell . For the opening and closing segments, full of power and mystery, a female performer bends over backwards, lit by a single lamp, her head to the audience and upside down. She twists her neck and turns her body into contortionist like moves that are seemingly humanly impossible. There is humour performed in a charming, fresh, teasing way (for example the amazing miked duet where the man is taped and has a mike in his mouth and on his chest. We can hear every thump whistle and groan as he lifts and shifts his partner. Some of the seemingly not-looking runs and catches are incredible, not forgetting to mention the balancing water bowls! I am not sure which is more impressive, the man balancing several in the crook of his elbows or the woman doing a headstand and balancing for a while her colleagues do tumbling twists across her body. Emphasis is put on the muscular bodies, the feats of strength the cast perform and the complicated sculptural shapes they work together to produce. Dramatic fast tumbles, bodies perched five high, lifts, rolls and death-defying throws are also included. Another thing I noticed was the precision in placing of hand or foot for example in the balancing and throws and the degree of trust and teamwork between the cast members is amazing . Created by Yaron Lifschitz and produced by Danielle Kellie, the overall effect is perhaps similar to a contemporary dance performance, with the sinuous energetic choreography performed to a blend of inspiring, pulsating music from the Kronos Quartet, Kimmo Pohjonon and Samuli Kosminen. The score is electronic and ranges from the sea and heartbeats, to almost lyrical, to hisses and beeps and pulsating noise and includes classical orchestral, tribal, and Celtic music. Jason Organ’s minimalistic lighting, was used to great effect to create different moods for each segment. For Circa, a serious ensemble dedicated to circus creation, the letter S as a concept for a show offers infinite possibility. Compared to Circus Oz, Circa is far more restrained and refined. ‘S’ has been developed into a spectacular display of strength and acrobatic skill that had the audience roaring and cheering its approval at the end. Running time 90 minutes without interval. Circa’s ‘S’ played at the Parramatta Riverside Theatre between the 21st and 23rd August. For more about S by Circa, visit http://www.circa.org.au