Not to be missed, hugely inventive, an extraordinary show,
Does it work? A resounding Yes
Possibly tongue in cheek humour, a character runs across stage nude shouting ‘Juliet’, then later adding clothes bit by bit. It is indeed not Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet but of course, there are references everywhere: three couples are all called Romeo and Juliet, and the music is all excerpts from pieces entitled Romeo and Juliet (or Juliette) by Gounod, Berlioz, Mancini, Nino Rota’s Zeffirelli’s film, Ravel, Vasks and by the two musicians on stage, Dalia Dedinskaite and Gleb Pysniak.
Set in war-time, (unlike Shakespeare, not warring families but countries), this is not explicitly referenced until the end, but the maelstrom of heightened tensions and rule-bending sexual relationships typical of such times is explored.
A mature couple, Sofia Pintzou and Marius Pinigis, are in yer face, expressing the full range from neurotic insecurities to passionate attraction, the female literally leaping onto her partner followed by simulated aggressive sex. The younger pair, Dominyka Markeviciute and Povilas Jurgaitis, by contrast are more reminiscent of Shakespeare, sensitive, hesitant and romantic. The two musicians plant a delicate kiss on each other, whilst moving across stage continuing to play. As the show progresses, there are unexpected developments of character or changing partners, a LGBTQ aspect perhaps, though it might just be brotherly or sisterly affection, it is up to you the audience.
The unusual choreography, baffling at first, then more and more convincing, is the result of Granhøj’s ‘Obstruction Technique’ a development of Nancy Spanier’s. A dancer’s movement impeded by another dancer tries to continue with the first movement, now transformed in fascinating ways. This might be caused by something as simple as a kiss where glued mouth to mouth they continue to dance around the stage. There is no need to have a scholar’s grasp of the technique to appreciate it. The point is this show. Does it work? A resounding Yes. It can be delightfully amusing, but at other times the original angles and contortions reveal deep psychological insights which get under one’s skin and enter one’s psyche.
At the very end shots are fired and each of the performers in turn falls down dead. It seemed rather cheap, which spoilt – for me – an otherwise outstanding show.
