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 Theatre Review: The Collision of Things (Move to Stand)

An innovative clash of stagnant realism, physical theatre and music, ‘The Collision Of Things’ is the story of three reasonably ordinary friends. Simple as. No histrionics, no terminal illness diagnosis, no long-lost buddy with blood-lust. There’s grief without the wailing, relationship problems without hideous break-ups, drinking binges without world-changing confessions; just three mates, getting on with life and putting up with its obstacles. It does at times feel engulfed by the gaping performance space. It’s beautifully simple, though; theatre that takes your hand and becomes your best friend before crushing you with its heart-rending finish. A moving, excruciatingly accurate representation of what it is to be human, with some of the rubbish, some of the fun and some of the same-old.

Pleasance Courtyard, until 25 Aug (not 13, 20), 5.45pm. 
tw rating 4/5 | 

- See more at: http://www.threeweeks.co.uk/article/ed2013-theatre-review-the-collision-of-things-move-to-stand/#sthash.buHwkZce.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 Theatre Review: Tell me a Secret (Airborne Theatre)

An energetic and high-spirited combination of physical theatre, live music and a touch of karaoke, ‘Tell Me a Secret’ does exactly what it says in the title. From marriage fantasies and re-enacted sexual liaisons to having witnessed a fatal accident; the performance is a confessional series of secrets, all made more unsettling by knowing that much of the dialogue is taken from real life. Given the material’s strength, you find yourself wishing they’d occasionally give the props and fancy movement a rest and let the words speak for themselves. Similarly, culling a sub-plot between two siblings would be no loss. Though thought-provoking and effervescent, it’s a little too cluttered. If Airborne could keep their focus on substance over style, they’ll be one to watch in the future.

C nova, until 25 Aug (odd dates only), 1.10pm.
tw rating 3/5 |

- See more at: http://www.threeweeks.co.uk/article/ed2013-theatre-review-tell-me-a-secret-airborne-theatre/#sthash.Vmy7UCIO.dpuf

Edinburgh 2013 Physical Review: Echolalia (Jen McArthur & Kallo Collective)

If hoover attacks, shortbread and invasion of personal space don’t ruffle your feathers, this might be your kind of thing. Jen McArthur plays a lonely woman with Asperger’s syndrome in a 1940s wasteland, accompanied by sparse possessions, rituals, rehearsals for job interviews and social engagements that never happen.  ‘Echolalia’ was conceived after McArthur was “tickled by the social ‘weirdness’ of autistic children”, a discovery that it’s difficult to feel entirely comfortable with. Although magnificently performed, you have the niggling sense that this isn’t the most balanced, responsible account of Asperger’s syndrome. There are one or two moments which address more serious implications, but these are quickly overshadowed by impeccably executed buffoonery. A whimsical, fantastic spectacle, dogged by dubious moral implications.

C aquila, until 26 Aug (not 12), 3.40pm.
tw rating 3/5 | 

- See more at: http://www.threeweeks.co.uk/article/ed2013-physical-theatre-review-echolalia-jen-mcarthur-kallo-collective/#sthash.AMuhIJ0Z.dpuf

Edinburgh 2013 Physical Review: Confused in Syracuse (OPS Theatre)

If you think of Ancient Greece, you’re probably not picturing a centaur whose backside has emancipated itself. Add a raunchy love triangle and you’ve got ‘Confused in Syracuse’, a bawdy slapstick farce from St Petersburg based company OPS theatre. Energy is there in buckets; unfortunately, substance is not. Fake boobs and fart jokes abound, though both ends of the centaur do a cracking job of tottering around for an hour on wonky stilts. The production seems unable to decide if it’s a sketch show or a play, and a combination of no dialogue with only sporadic choreography neither clarifies the plot nor warms you to the characters. Not bad for an occasional giggle, but expect to be left feeling very confused (in Syracuse).

C, until 26 Aug (not 13), 3.30pm.
tw rating 2/5 | 

- See more at: http://www.threeweeks.co.uk/article/ed2013-physical-theatre-review-confused-in-syracuse-ops-theatre/#sthash.bPy67XKT.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