Storm clouds were developing after a steamy and hot late summer’s day. We dined al fresco at the delicious Chilli Jam, prior to attending a performance of Reflect, which opened at Parramatta’s Riverside Theatre on Wednesday. A steady stream of Western Sydney Wanderer’s supporters walked past the restaurant and onto Parramatta Stadium for the clash with Ulsan Hyuandai in the Asian Champions League opener. They would have been disappointed with the result in the soccer. There was nothing to be disappointed about in Performing Lines WA production of modern dance. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Choreographer Sue Peacock and designer Andrew Lake have collaborated again for a memorable production. That it is memorable is fitting and relevant as Sue Peacock is trying to convey how we remember the emotions of those significant and turbulent times in our youth when we form friendships and relationships. We do not all remember the details of the relationships in the same way but memories of the intensity of the relationships remain.
There are five dancers in the performance and this number is conducive to two couples forming relationships and one member of the group being on the outer. There memories are explored from five different perspectives and shown as a series of snapshots. Sometimes these snapshots are very fluid and highly energised and at other times they are stylised and controlled.
Ben Taaffe’s sound design is critical to the success of the production and it blends seamlessly with the structure and the performance. The opening music is Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Albatross’ which lends itself well to the precise movements of the dancers as the imprecise relationships are remembered. Other music used is more dynamic, if less familiar, and lends itself well to the more energetic dance in the production.
Central to this work are the five talented, creative and attractive dancers. The interplay between Jenni Large, Bernadette Lewis, Storm Helmore, Kynan Hughes and Tyrone Robinson tantalisingly explores the relationships with intense physicality. More importantly than this it is simply beautiful to watch and become absorbed in the movement, soothed by the melodies and moved by the daring interaction.
REFLECT opened at Parramatta Riverside Theatre 26th February and runs until 1st March.