May-We-Go-Round The Hiccup Project Barbican Theatre November 28th 2016
I first saw this show as a short showcase at the NRTF conference in Falmouth in July. At that event it had an anarchic appeal which, despite being foreshortened, whetted my appetite
In Plymouth at the Barbican Theatre, a centre in the South West of innovative dance programming and exploratory work I saw the show in its entirety. And wow what a laugh and a helter skelter ride.
I first saw this show as a short showcase at the NRTF conference in Falmouth in July. At that event it had an anarchic appeal which, despite being foreshortened, whetted my appetite
In Plymouth at the Barbican Theatre, a centre in the South West of innovative dance programming and exploratory work I saw the show in its entirety. And wow what a laugh and a helter skelter ride.
May-We-Go-Round This show is unconventional, sassy, full of
humour, and alternative. It navigates well the fine line between artfulness and
chaotic slap stick mucking about. Two dancers Christina Mackerron and Chess Dillon-Reams give a very
dynamic physical workout and an amusing script deconstructing the various unsatisfactory relationships two twenty- somethings have
The pair “play” with the audience - pushing at the conventions. We are introduced to their “workout” - the daily grind which we begin to see is part of the
"romance carousel" - the "May we go Round" of the title. The two dancers’ are individually magnetic and difficult to take the eye off one to watch what the
other is getting up to. We are bedazzled with some bendiness, acrobatics, and
comic physical theatre. As well as a phenomenal energy, splits, dynamic floor
work and synchronicity, they use posture, facial expression in a playful,
anarchic, sometimes suggestive ways. There is strand of
satire on the dilemmas of relationships and friendship in modern society- the audience after initial bewilderment were drawn in and laughing out loud
with many fellow-feeling cheers from the women and men enjoying the spectacle - the two decide eventually
that after their serial relationship failures that flirting is the best option
for everyone.
The
music is cleverly selected, mostly pop….a wide palette from the monotonous
“merry-go-round” treadmill of their circular gyration to R&B Craig David,
Cher, The Strokes, Bob Dylan. It
provides constant interest and creative impact. The “props” are confined to two bum bags in which the clothes associated
with the string of relationships are distinguised, otherwise the artifice is
entirely in the stage presence of these two talented zany entertainers.
The
script is minimal and conversational but it takes us through the kaleidoscope
of dating hope, fantasy from Italian teen seduction to holiday flings with fit PE instructor,
romance, dreamy loved-up , to
disappointment, rejection or indifference.
The language is candid, but decorum is maintained
(mostly) which makes it more appealing and funny. It plays a bit with the audience pushing at
our expectations and makes us come out after a glitzy finale with a happy hum
and smile on your face.
Great show or Plymouth..try to catch this company they are one to watch
Great show or Plymouth..try to catch this company they are one to watch
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