Resolution Review #2: WEDNESDAY 31 MAY

Link with comparison review by Matthew Paluch

Fuse Collective That thing

Maria Masonou InACTION

Naomi Chockler “...If I wanted I could use this time wisely”

”The evening began with That Thing, a solo exploring chronic illness created and performed by Lucy Clark. A projected morphing orb and other visuals by DANI&TING represent the illness in the background while a pre-recorded Clark describes her pain, fear and feelings of invisibility over live music by Philip Kinshuck. Sharing a personal experience requires great bravery and vulnerability, and watching this work, I could appreciate and understand Clark’s well, though I couldn’t engage with it fully. Perhaps in the next iteration, it would be worthwhile to explore a greater range of how vulnerability can be expressed through movement.

InACTION, created and performed by Maria Masonou, is what I would describe as weird in the best way. Ironically quite active, Masanou executes distorted contortions and strange, disconnected moves presented like puzzle pieces, but don’t worry- the answers are hiding just beyond the mattress centre stage left. She starts by sluggishly shifting on the mattress under a soft spotlight, allowing the audience to remember and connect to that state of existing (I admit, I know it well). Text, visuals and shadows are gently introduced before we move swiftly to the extreme with highly physical movement that sort of doesn’t make sense until it does. Between a glass of water, a striking spotlight and a cheeky wave, the piece ends and I can settle in to appreciate this unique offering examining technology and isolation.

In “...If I wanted I could use this time wisely,” choreographer, Naomi Chockler transforms our unavoidable daily commute to a delightful journey juxtaposing abstraction with literal, pedestrian gestures. The performers beautifully commit to the intention of the movement repeating and continuously modifying clear actions like holding onto the pole or nodding off while layering engaging partnering interactions of duets and trios. The music composed by Jonny Aubrey- Bentley supports and builds momentum throughout the work while keeping us grounded with sounds of train tracks and blaring horns. It takes great skill to present a story without a scripted narrative, and it makes me wish I didn’t have to get off at my stop.”