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Fragment

 
Wayne Cleworth Review by Wayne Cleworth 1 Published: 17 Aug 2012 Show Dates: 31 Dec 1969-31 Dec 1969

A Mused Collective’s interpretative dance to live music attempts to ‘connect a disjointed world with pillows, neckties, a French horn, and groovy beats.’ This turns out to be both an incredibly bold and highly improbable statement made by a bunch of girls who, clad in purple satin pyjamas, lie in a heap upon the floor. Using a pillow as their main prop, they perform an all smiling synchronised pillow dance that turns nasty when they realise that there are not enough pillows to go round. Like a children’s playtime with pillows instead of toys being thrown out of the pram, the performers’ pouts are indicative of this naive and unimaginatively choreographed show. Well rehearsed but unbelievably repetitive, this show doesn’t so much ‘connect a disjointed world’ but demonstrate the pointlessness of existence; especially when this group of performers are meant to be the pioneers of hope and salvation. Even when one of the girls removes herself from the dance sequence to spout some existential trivia, the show fails to have a point or a purpose. Creating a blues band on a sound loop with a guitar, a French horn and some maracas was its one saving grace until, and pardon the pun, even that started to repeat. Implausible theatrical choices made to get rid of the newspaper (another remedial prop) and childish attempts to inject some humour into the show, ensured that the only people left smiling in the theatre by the end were the performers.

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The Blurb:

A light-hearted, athletic and quirky exploration of what pulls us apart and brings us together. Through graceful modern dance punctuated by energetic partnering, Fragment will be a feast for your senses with original live sultry jazz and folk music.