SYDNEY FESTIVAL: THE LAST SEASON @ CARRIAGEWORKS

Inspired by Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, ‘The Last Season’ is Force Majeure’s current blend of storytelling, dance and music being performed as part of the 2021 Sydney Festival. It may adopt the essence of Vivaldi’s four part cycle through seasons but departs from the original work in both form and apparent interpretation musically and through movement.

There are aspects of this production that deserve loud plaudits. Of note are the lighting design (Damien Cooper), set design (Marg Howell) and the indefatigable Youth Company ensemble who provide continuous stage presence and movement throughout the 75 minutes.

Music by Kelly Ryall provides an atmospheric score for passage through seasons. The music is played by Ryall (keyboard), Niki Johnson (percussion), Freya Schack-Arnott (cello). Susie Bishop on violin also provides some haunting vocals.

The seasons characters are represented by Pamela Rabe as Summer resplendent in her formal gown; Paul Capsis as Autumn, a cabaret artist in the autumn of their career and the white clad Winter figure of Olwen Fouéré, all of whom deliver sparse dialogue written by Tom Wright.

The choreography of Artistic Director Danielle Micich retains the audience’s attention as we watch new birth emerge from cocoons and start writhing and crawling, then walking and scurrying. Later jerking and shaking become more prevalent.

These hooded tan covered beings are told by Summer that they must hurry as the colder seasons approach. It appears they must obey the laws yet one rebels. The clash of old ideas and attitudes and the new is threaded throughout this show. The presence of the rebel suggests hope that things may not always be inevitable – that we can try new ways.

Paul Capsis as Autumn jettisons us to modern suburbia and provides the first comic relief. Winter is the most profound prophetic character, speaking of extinction. The other seasons’ characters are off to the side playing cards – a game of chance, leaving the young creatures to deal with the prospect of this scenario. Winter is the last season and it closes the show.

The audience remains separated throughout by a sloping screen of light. Bursts of jagged sound and light flashes signal season changes. This distances us as we reflect on the tales being presented. Overall, interesting but not involving; there is no loud call to action but one of contemplation.

‘The Last Season’ finishes on Sunday 10th January 2021 at Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh, Sydney.