Edinburgh 2013 Physical Review: East, A Woman Shifting On Time Axis (Water Reflection Dance Ensemble)

Water Reflection Dance Ensemble present a thoughtful piece tackling the noble challenge of exploring the way in which Chinese cultural norms have traditionally and continue to oppress Eastern women. There’s no doubt it’s an important topic, and there’s something undeniably courageous and powerful watching a piece conceived and performed by people who have experienced these values first hand. Director Tan Hui-Chen puts the female dancers in restrictive traditional shoes, and their hidden discomfort throughout is harrowing. However, at times the piece lack clarity and coherence, a lot of the speech wasn’t subtitled or accompanied by explanatory movement; it also didn’t help that on this particular performance, a light partially obscured the subtitles from vision. A brave, inspiring piece, but a little rough round the edges.

Paradise in the Kirkhouse, until 11 Aug, 2.20pm.
tw rating 3/5 | 

- See more at: http://www.threeweeks.co.uk/article/ed2013-physical-review-east-a-woman-shifting-on-time-axis-water-reflection-dance-ensemble/#sthash.LpUFxA1p.dpuf

Edinburgh 2013 Physical Review: Fleurs de Cimetière, et autres sornettes (Cie Herve-Gil)

Whilst a dashing older man might be a ‘distinguished silver-fox’, a good-looking older women is far more likely to just be ‘quite good for her age’. French choreographer Myriam Herve-Gil teams with playwright Dominique Wittorkski to present this candid, witty account of a woman’s reflection on life, the inevitability of ageing, and the cruel reality that older women become increasingly disregarded. The dialogue is concise, frank and engaging, a brutally honest, non-indulgent acceptance of the process of ageing, though I’m not sure Herve-Gil’s choreography does justice to the poignancy of the words. The thought’s clear; older women demonstrating the retained litheness in their bodies, though it often feels like distraction from Wittorski’s pertinent observations. The two sides are mismatched, leading to a frustratingly average conclusion.

Summerhall, until 15 Aug, 2.15pm.
tw rating 2/5 | 

- See more at: http://www.threeweeks.co.uk/article/ed2013-physical-review-fleurs-de-cimetiere-et-autres-sornettes-cie-herve-gil/#sthash.sDr4jCWq.dpuf

Edinburgh 2013 Physical Review: Sluts of Possession (Rosie Kay / Guilherme Miotto / Louis Price)

The blurb says you’ll be plunged into a “primitive, possessed state”, so perhaps I was meant to fall asleep in ‘Sluts of Possession’. Repetitive rhythms, violent movement and face-paint streaked faces are key components of what is a confusing 45 minutes. The set is vaguely futuristic, films of tribal communities are projected on a silver foil screen. The movement was razor sharp and relentless; if nothing else, I’ll applaud any dancer who’s sweating enough to fill a bucket yet doesn’t break step once. No fault in the execution, it’s the content that leaves me at sea. Saying that, there were whoops and cheers at the end, so perhaps it’s something brilliant that just zinged over my head.

Dance Base, until 24 Aug, times vary.
tw rating 2/5 | 

- See more at: http://www.threeweeks.co.uk/article/ed2013-physical-review-sluts-of-possession-rosie-kay-guilherme-miotto-louis-price/#sthash.hqIGqIjf.dpuf

Edinburgh 2013 Physical Review: In Two Minds (Dancing Souls and Theatre SOMA)

A joint venture between Hong Kong’s Shan Chan and the UK’s Suzi Cunningham, ‘In Two Minds’ is billed as demonstrating the healing power of movement, though it’s actually more about the experience of mental illness. The results are patchy: the choreography is sharp and skilful with some interesting highlights (mental illness is likened to a noisy kid in the cinema), but overall it doesn’t go beyond ticking the usual boxes. A gratingly clichéd refrain of horror movie-style nursery rhymes just made my toes curl. An innovative but all too brief middle-section shuns the established tone, and is simple, powerful and moving. It’s a shame that the rest of the performance doesn’t quite follow suit.

C, until 10 Aug, 5.05pm.

tw rating 3/5 |

- See more at: http://www.threeweeks.co.uk/article/ed2013-physical-theatre-review-in-two-minds-dancing-souls-and-theatre-soma/#sthash.ypjEtvKX.dpuf