Left – Miranda Wheen in Quest. Cover – Jane Duncan, Luke Spicer, Anthony Albrecht in Panorama. Photos – Heleana GenausWhat it is you experience as you sit in the intimate and noticeably very square space of the Reginald (Downstairs) Theatre in the Seymour Centre is a unique work – almost a new dimension – made purely of the amalgamation of an array of harmonious melodies and evocative dance.
It is the first instalment of a collaboration called Quest. Choreographed by Martin del Amo (Anatomy of an Afternoon – a stunning work) and composed by Alex Pozniak, it opens with a three-piece ensemble, beautifully crafted and painstakingly manufactured. The whole piece unfolds carefully like an extended trance – an ongoing trail of emotion and experience. It ranges from classic to experimental seamlessly and with synchronised dance, which serves to heighten the experience of the audience and strengthen the whimsical nature of the piece.
In one section there is no visual stimulation, purely sounds – those of a jungle. The innovative lighting design helps to decide the atmosphere at once. The lights start at red and blue – the cool and warmth of life, perhaps – so that the saturated light pervades the stage, drawing the viewer in, to this square, but simultaneously, circular world, of depth and discovery. In one scene, a stark orange brick set is highlighted magnificently, as the music starts to play.
Admittedly there are times the patience of the audience is tried – when for instance the idea behind Synchronicity is explained somewhat didactically, with reference to Wikipedia’s definition of what synchronicity is – highly unnecessary, given the educated audience. That said, everyone undoubtedly gains something from Synchronicity, as it is in its essence, a fascinating and compelling exploration of discovery, space, push and pull, light, colour, movement and emotion.
Chronology Arts and New Music Network present
Synchronicity
Venue: Seymour Centre | Corner of City Rd and Cleveland St Chippendale
Dates: 10 – 11 Feb, 2012
Tickets: $25 – $10
Bookings: www.seymourcentre.com | 02 9351 7940
