It was interesting to see a show that presented the possibility that we take our bodies very much for granted. Legs was presented by Princess Scissors, who encouraged us to look at our relationship with our bodies using the famous Hans Christian Anderson tale of The Little Mermaid as inspiration.
Raw, honest, and open about what we really feel about ourselves
Using original songs, dance, body paint and a toy banana to represent a prince, what emerged was a different journey into how we, as individuals, see ourselves. By being close to the action, no matter where we were in the room, we saw Princess Scissors connect with the Little Mermaid character on a physical and emotional level in a very open and vulnerable state. It was also unique to see a mermaid tail being physically suggested by rope. Yet, on another level, it seemed to suggest being tied down, restricted by the mental and physical doubts and fears that can emerge as we grow older. This led us down some very interesting paths. Our princess made such brave choices, that what emerged was not just a performance, but a cathartic experience that came with a content awareness warning at the start in case anyone was triggered by the subjects raised.
Whilst this was an interesting show to watch, what may have let it down is the occasional lack of clarity as to whether we were watching another interpretation of The Little Mermaid, or a personal story of self discovery. This potentially could have been distracting for those watching, as the events evolving seemed to go from one extreme to the other, making it hard at times to keep up. What might help is a little more focus on the actual tale itself before bringing in the self exploration side, just to make it more well rounded. Having said that, it does add to the messiness the mental state can be in during times of inner trauma as portrayed.
There was also one video segment, which had the potential of being powerful as it showed the reality of the mermaid's transformation from a tail to having legs. However it was a little too long, which potentially ran the risk of people losing interest. Maybe one to two minutes needed to be cut in order to keep the natural flow going. Despite this, it did highlight the painful reality that body transformation can have on an individual.
Although sections needed reworking, Legs was a performance that was raw, honest, and open about what we really feel about ourselves deep down. It addressed subjects we might not talk about openly, in a safe and creative way, and it was delivered with such passion and energy, that it made us look at the body differently. With Princess Scissors' positive and sparkling attitude against the dark themes portrayed, it was well balanced, and mindful too.
