REVIEW: Gravity & Other Myths Brings Circus Back To Summer at The Sydney Opera House with THE MIRROR

Saturday 11th February 2023, 7:30pm, Drama Theatre Sydney Opera House

THE MIRROR intrigues and delights with an evening of circus, contemporary dance and modern music as it 'reflects' societies views on what entertains and engages the masses. The work created by Adelaide based Gravity & Other Myths team under the direction of Darcy Grant s a thought provoking work that makes more sense when considered alongside the producer's description of the work.

Through Gravity & Other Myths' specialty of circus acrobatics and human movement, the concept of THE MIRROR is to hold a metaphorical mirror to society in general, from the generation of bite sized entertainment, user generated content, the desire to see only the final product and conversely, the fascination with seeing behind the scenes of the creative process. The staging is presented in a seemingly simple space, with the main design feature being the abstract fluorescent lighting installation adorning the proscenium. Curtains that can be dragged across the stage, the occasional screen on which selfie videos are projected and a retro 'boom box' radio on a stand make up the rest of Matt Adey's set design. Allowing the performers to move freely Renate Henschke's costume design adopts an amusing simplicity of basic white cotton underwear with the addition of the occasional black over garment before a later change to lingerie that takes the work more into burlesque stylings. The use of the black garments however does not always pair well with Adey's lighting design which is often relatively dark with bright points of the fluorescent tube lighting which makes it hard to see the performers.

The use of a section of curtain being dragged back and forth along the stage allows snippets of acts, revealing towers of bodies, echoing the modern generation's penchant for wanting the instant gratification of seeing the end product but not necessarily the work that goes into it. This hiding of much of the lead up to the outcome can become a bit annoying particularly when repeated but thankfully other acts within the overall 'story' do show the full routines. The insight into the 'rehearsal process' of planning moves without fully conducting them is intriguing, particularly to anyone who understands the concept of mental visualization prior to attempting an action and the troupe's execution of the piece is a moment of delightful comedy relief.

Composer and singer Ekrem Eli Phoenix features with original songs and mashups of pop songs and his spoken work 'poetry' of song lyrics presented to a smartphone on a selfie stick is an appropriate tribute to the user made content generation and their engagement with the acrobats is creative. Additionally, the second part of the 80 minute performance is refreshingly lighthearted and better lit compared to the first half of the work. It Is in the second part that the audience gets a sense of the characters of some of the performers, making the work more engaging and enjoyable.

For those that enjoy contemporary circus acrobatics that provokes thought, THE MIRROR is a good summer viewing option. While many other circus shows engage props and apparatus, THE MIRROR is a celebration of what the human body can do without the assistance of extra equipment.

The Mirror - Sydney Opera House