(Jori Snell in "Inua")National Arts Festival, Grahamstown: Wednesday, July 6, 2011
By now, we’re all getting over the freeze and the weather is definitely warming up, as forecast.
First production of the day was Inua winner of the 2010 Standard Bank Silver Ovation Award in Physical Theatre. Presented by Baba Yaga Theatre in association with the National Arts Festival, it’s described as “a timeless mythological space where a woman sets off on a shapeshifting journey meeting arctic creatures and the untamed force of Nature. She looks for the “Inua” (essence) of things. In Inuit (Greenlandic) mythology, “Inua” is the force of life movement and change in all things.
Created and performed by Jori Snell, this is a fascinating insight into the culture of the extreme northern climes. With her skilful use of enchanting shadow imagery and beautiful lighting effects, she has created a compelling, interesting and informative dramatic work that I responded to with pleasure from start to finish.
The cellphone warning was very specific at the start of this work and it’s for a good reason as the first ten minutes rely strongly on mesmerising lighting effects coming out of the darkness.
The production focuses on the mermaid who was prepared to give up her hundreds of years of existence to be a human being for one day. With sensitive piano or acoustic accompaniment, the story continues as the mermaid is told that she has to forfeit her voice as well.
There are delightful scenes of childish play. Another is when the mermaid finds her tail replaced by two legs and tries to come to terms with this strange new form of movement.
Any good actor knows how to “find the light”, in other words to make sure they are properly positioned in lighting “specials” but in this production Jori Snell takes this capacity to new heights!
Inua was followed by Benchmarks
Presented by a conspiracy of clowns in association with FTH:K and the National Arts Festival, Benchmarks is created by the award-winning and multiple-nominated crew that produced Pictures of You, Womb Tide, QUACK! and GUMBO.
FTH:K is a young, funky theatre company that focuses on integrating Deaf and hearing performers, audiences and educators. It is training South Africa's first generation of Deaf people for inclusion in the professional performing arts industry. Their website proudly states that there is currently no other project like it (nor has there ever been) running in South Africa. See review at http://news.artsmart.co.za/2011/07/benchmarks.html
Then for something completely different. The South African premiere of Madam Silk up at the Monument, the Guy Butler Theatre being perfectly equipped to handle a production of this technical nature. Presented by Fidget Feet in association with the National Arts Festival, this production by Ireland’s foremost aerial dance theatre company offers an often-breathtaking appreciation of the work of aerial artists.
A survey was conducted at this single performance as to whether audiences would be interested in seeing similar work in the future and the result was a resounding 80% “yes”!
The choreographer is Fred Deb with music and film by Jym Daly. The lighting design by Jacques Bertrand is evocative and the film effects spectacular in many sequences, an amusing one dealing with an ink bottle, a quill and lots of hearts (ie love letters). Performers Chantal McCormick, Jennifer Patterson and Lindsey Butcher evoked gasps of admiration as they entwined and disentwined themselves in and out of their sheets of fabric. Paul Shriek’s costumes were attractive and workable but the Marie Antoinette outfit was a sheer work of art, sturdy crinoline hoops and all!
I would be fascinated to know what the choreology looks like for a production such as this. There are specific symbols for writing choreography for movements such as arabesque, pirouette or pliè, but how do you produce the creative shorthand for something like “draw up the sheet under your right arm, then bring it round across the body and round to the back then between the legs and up around the waist”…?! Make a serious mistake and the artist tumbles to the floor from a dizzy height!
Madam Silk is inspired by writers such as Anaïs Nin and Gustave Flaubert from the romanticism period. The performers at times represent extraordinary women from history such as Edith Piaf and Marie Antoinette. – Caroline Smart
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