Review: ADELAIDE FRINGE 2017: FAUNA at Ukiyo, The Royal Croquet Club

Reviewed by Christine Pyman, Saturday 11th March 2017

Enchanting forest sounds introduce us to the spectacular acrobatics of Fauna. Five highly trained performers, Daniel Cave-Walker, Enni-Maria Lymi, Matt Pasquet, Rhiannon Cave-Walker and Imogen Huzel, enthralled the audience with feats of strength, while percussive acoustic guitarist, Geordie Little, played as a counterfoil to the unfolding dramas.

Watching this was like entering into an alien world of primitive creatures, prancing, circling, impressing mates, fighting for dominance, immediately in front of us, very like seeing a David Attenborough documentary, but with immediacy. With superb muscular control, the acrobats mimicked the intensity of playfulness and preening of wild birds, animals, and insects. Of especial note was the double handstand acts, entwining figures balancing each single-handedly as they writhed around each other, sinuously and sensuously in a mating dance.

There was humour in the glances exchanged as protagonists circled, then breathtakingly threw each other around in a balletic, highly choreographed performance. Enni-Maria Lymis trapeze acts added the dimension of forest height to this show, cleverly and beautifully realised. These performers met at The Swedish DOCH (Dans och Cirkus Hogskolan), after performing separately all over the world. This is a highly polished series of acts that together make us close up voyeurs into the forest domain of wild creatures in a beautifully controlled acrobatic story.

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