Review: Red Lick by Sunniva Moen Rørvik at Resolution 2023

A new review of a piece at Resolution 2023 at The Place.

“Sunniva Moen Rørvik aka Big Papa Slug (they/them) certainly made a splash at the opening night of Resolution festival at The Place. In the festival focused on supporting the development of new works, specifically “that piece you always wanted to make,” we certainly found a gem with Red Lick. Recognising that this piece may not be for those interested in the stern formality of a classical piece, the comical, unserious playfulness spreads joy to those that choose to enter into this world.

Part 1:

Lights come up and Big Papa Slug is front and centre in white while the other six dancers trail in a V-formation behind them. Staring blankly at the audience to a score of raging dance music, they slowly raise the glasses to their faces with all the intensity they can muster. With glasses finally adorned, Rørvik tears off their track pants before their shirt is ripped off to reveal their chest on full display to the crowd’s cheers and whoops. Already, the world is clear that anything can happen and nothing is off limits in this piece.

Without losing a beat, house lights come up and a pragmatic transition to part 2 takes place: Costume pieces are stricken, four dancers in black take their places and a chair is set as two performers enter holding with a black sheet to hide the chair…

Part 2: 

The four dancers begin what I can only describe as an elevated, sarcastic macarena (there is a clip of it on their Instagram and I will be learning it before my next night out). I have no idea how they are maintaining their straight-faces, especially when the sheet is pulled away to show Rørvik now dressed in a jean skirt and vest with a striking white horseshoe mustache. Now, I must admit I do not understand this reference* or even what they are saying as the song is in Norwegian, but as the audience begins clapping along to show support, I know for sure that lip-syncing can save the world. Rørvik drips with charisma as they enter the theatre to serenade various audience members before returning to the stage for a big finish followed by the luxurious awkwardness as the house lights come up again and the dancers make their way off stage.

*Rørvik clarified this is a reference to Trønderrock band, D.D.E.

Part 3:

The stage is blank and flooded with blue light as a performer enters from the back corner scuttling toward the audience with their face in a cut out of something. As they move closer, I can see the second pair of feet shuffling from behind them to push their face into the cutout of what I now can see is a Pepsi Max can. They continue moving toward the audience taking space in the cut out and pushing the other out (quite literally in ours and each other’s faces) until they reach the audience and give something to one of the spectators. I could not quite make out what this was from my seat, but I would presume some glasses or a soda? Regardless, the roar of laughter was sufficiently entertaining even if I did not get the joke. In accordance with the structure, the performers unceremoniously exit with inelegant bourrees off the stage.”

Link to Full Article: https://danceartjournal.com/2023/05/31/red-lick-by-sunniva-moen-rorvik-a-spectacular-queer-celebration-of-norewegian-pop-culture/