Canberra Theatre
3 – 7 July 2013
Review by Len Power 3 July 2013
When pre-publicity for a show insists that it’s the most
remarkable thing you’ll ever see, it makes you a bit wary. When you see a lot of children in the audience,
you hope that there’s going to be something for adults to enjoy also. Well, ‘Slava’s Snowshow’ IS remarkable. It’s a magical experience that will enchant
and delight everyone who sees it.
It was created, produced and staged by Slava Polunin from
Russia, who founded the Theatre of the Art Of Modern Clowning in the early
1980s to re-establish the great tradition of this artform.
From the moment you enter the Canberra Theatre, you can see
that you’re in for something very different.
There are wires stretched high above the seats, bits of flutter paper all
over the floor and the auditorium has been moodily lit, creating a sense of strange
anticipation.
The cast of eight draw you quickly into their very special
world through mime and clowning, engaging your imagination thoroughly. It’s funny, sad, cheeky and also very moving
at times. If you remember Victor Borge
and his quiet, European style of fun, that’s one of the types of clown humour
you’ll see in this show. You will also find
yourself involved in and enjoying some thrilling audience participation sequences
designed to heighten the experience. The
amazing sound and light show that accompanies it is extraordinary. It’s important that you are surprised by each
part of the show, so giving you more specific detail is just not on.
By interval, the buzz of the audience, obviously excited by
what they’d seen so far, was very interesting.
The fun continues during interval, so don’t go out to the foyer unless
you really have to. After the
spectacular end of the show, no-one wanted to leave, and the cast encourage you
to stay on and have more fun.
If you have young children who have not seen a theatre
performance, take them to this. They
will be hooked on theatre for the rest of their life. It’s not just for children, though. It will bring out the inner child in
everyone. This is pure theatre and really is one of the most
remarkable things I’ve seen.