Created for Belco Arts by Sammy Moynihan
Costumes designed by Olga Dumova
Lighting
Designed by Linda Buck
The Theatre,
Belconnen Arts Centre, September 9 – 11
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
For its
inaugural production to launch the impressive new theatre at the Belconnen Arts
Centre, Belco Arts is presenting an ambitious physical theatre production
entitled “L’Entreprise du Risque”.
According to
his program notes, Creative Producer, Sammy Moynihan, has set out to explore
themes of risk, danger and fragility, by creating a circus extravaganza which harnesses
the varying circus skills of four trained circus performers, Jake Silvestro,
Bernard Bru, Imogen Drury and Clare Pengryffyn.
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| Ensemble -Clare Pengryffyn - Imogen Drury - Jake Silvestro - Bernard Bru Image: Andew Sikorski |
That
experience begins promisingly, with the audience, carefully observing Covid-19
distancing restrictions, being ushered into the darkened theatre, and seated
around the performing area, where artfully lit, stages, mats and mysterious
hanging sculptural shapes set up an intriguing air of expectation.
The
performers entered costumed in white boiler suits and helmets reminiscent of
space suits (or perhaps PPE). One (Jake Silvestro) gingerly removed his helmet,
and, apparently satisfied that the air was safe, launched into an impressive
acrobatic routine. Silvestro is a world class acrobat whose speciality is the
Cyr Wheel, which he featured twice during the show.
Besides
designing some intriguing aerial apparatus for the show, French-born, veteran
aerialist, Bernard Bru, also performed solo and together with Silvestro. His
solo on a moon-shaped apparatus was genuinely risky, given his age, as was
another on parallel ropes.
Imogen Drury
and Clare Pengryffyn have both trained with Warehouse Circus, and “L’Entreprise
du Risque” provides them with their first professional engagement as circus
performers. Both perform competently on the specially designed apparatus, but have
yet to master the presentation skills necessary to provide their performances
with the “wow” factor.
Besides
performing their routines, the four performers were required to accomplish
costume changes, set the riggings and clear away apparatus between acts, depriving
the show of pace and excitement.
Even had all
been highly experienced, it was very ambitious to expect four performers to
sustain an hour of demanding physical performance. Given that two of this cast
were novices, it was no surprise that the strain was often evident.
Circus
exists on thrills, risk and excitement. Unfortunately, despite the obvious time
and effort that has gone into developing this show, and the best efforts of the
talented cast, not enough of these elements are present in “L’Entreprise du
Risque” to allow it to achieve its ambitions.