|
 |
|
This weekend, I was at the Sadlers Wells for Eonnagata. I was expecting good things from a collaboration between Sylvie Guillem (dancer), Russell Maliphant (choreographer), Robert LePage (theatre-maker) and Alexander McQueen (designer).
It was not to be…well, not to be great, anyways. All those fantastically creative individuals just did not quite pull it together into a memorable whole. The narrative lacked both clarity and cohesion; the Kabuki elements introduced were weak and tentative; the costumes were often beautiful but, in the main, did not assist the performance; and, finally, the choreography was just not demanding enough of the performers – a criminal waste of Sylvie Guillem’s talents!
Of course there were some good things too – how could there not be? The lighting was wonderful; the music worked well; some of the visual imagery was beautiful; costumes amazing; and, there was some great choreography on and around a mirrored table at the end. But, overall, it was just not good enough.
I really did not mind too much though. I would far rather watch a performance that tries to be experimental and to push boundaries than one which does not. I accept that the consequence of such experimentation is sometimes failure. More often, it has yielded something remarkable, at best, and something to remember, even at worst. An evening at the Sadlers Wells – a wonderfully accessible venue – is rarely a complete waste of time.
www.sadlerswells.com
|
|
|
