Review: ADELAIDE FESTIVAL 2016: NELKEN Honoured Pina Bausch

Reviewed by Matthew John Plummer, Thursday 10th March 2016

Pina Bausch (1940 - 2009), one of the most significant choreographers of modern times, was well known for her combinations of dance and theatre. Nelken (Carnations), by Tanztheatre Wuppertal, currently playing at the Adelaide Festival Theatre, is a wonderful example of this form of performance. It is 16 years since Tanztheatre Wuppertal Pina Bausch toured Australia and this work, created in 1982, is well worth having waited for!

As the audience files into the auditorium, we can see an ocean of carnations meticulously carpeted over the entire stage, with the main curtain already drawn and lights up. The carnations are so closely arranged together that the performers must carefully place their feet amongst them to move onto the stage in a comical awkwardness, setting a light hearted tone, with people in the audience giggling right from the start. By the end of the show, however, this impressive flower arrangement is fairly well trampled, with but a few surviving stems still standing tall!

The two hour long performance, based on Pina Bausch's memories of life in post-war Germany, is a light hearted and highly entertaining work, keeping audiences engaged with waves of laughter and giggles throughout the auditorium. Athletic choreography and cleverly timed dialogue come together in a playful mix, filling the stage through much of the show, whilst moments of stillness shine beautifully, such as the simple sound of hearts beating as a performer holds a microphone against his own chest and chases dancers across the stage to capture the sound of their hearts, mid-delivery of movement and spoken word.

The human condition is on display throughout, as the work explores a childlike quality, and then moves to the other end of the spectrum, with authority and suppression, at times, looming, but still with tongue in check and wit being the greatest of weapons. Just as a mood is set with an act of control or authority, it is quickly smashed with humour in a subtle defiance of the control one person can have over any other. Our need for love, for play, for freedom, can not be suppressed, the need to express ourselves and live life as we wish to is there for us to experience.

This work has so much within it; superb dancers and choreography, expert timing and acting, stuntmen, glorious stagecraft, beautiful music throughout (Schubert's String Quartet in D, Gershwin's The Man I Love, music from Franz Lehar and Henry Mancini, and much more), and even some German shepherd dogs appeared on stage. This is an opportunity not to be missed and, hopefully, we don't have to wait another 16 years to see work from this fantastic company, Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch. Nelken is playing at the Adelaide Festival Theatre until Saturday 12th March.

Watch the preview below.

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