Out Of Chaos… by Gravity And Other Myths: Breathtaking Acrobatics ~ Adelaide Festival 2019 Review

[PHYSICAL THEATRE ~ WORLD PREMIERE ~ AUS] Scott Theatre, Wed Feb 27. Wow! Just wow! Watching the opening night of a world premiere season of Out Of Chaos by Adelaide born company Gravity And Other Myths is a brilliant way to spend an evening! Eight acrobats – Martin Schreiber, Simon McClure, Lisa Goldsworthy, Lewis Rankin, Dylan Phillips, Lewie West, Mieke Lizotte, Amanda Lee and one singer, weave magic with their incredible acrobatic skills. With so much circus and physical theatre available in the Fringe, is there any room for it in the Festival? The answer is a resounding Yes! They call it new circus, with more emphasis on fluid body movement than circus tricks, clothing is colourful and casual, not the trappings of circus costumery. There is plenty of theatre, not so much razzamatazz. The show begins with each of the cast coming on stage to begin addressing the audience. By the time they are all speaking simultaneously we have perhaps reached the chaos of the title. There is music – the pulsing layered soundtrack is compelling and makes some of the moves look more like dancing. There is humour. When the acrobats occasionally think out loud, voicing their preparation for a routine, it is both enlightening and amusing. A competition between the singer and acrobats to see if he can make a note last longer than their handstands has the audience chuckling, but when the singer then continues singing a haunting refrain atop a three person tower the audience is in awe. You may have seen some or all of the acrobatic moves before, but with eight acrobats on stage, with something constantly happening, there is almost too much for the eye to take in. Thankfully the acrobats do not wait for applause. It takes a while for the audience to realise they are able to applaud individual feats, but once they have done so there is much gasping and cheering to be heard. A hoopla routine begins more theatrically than spectacularly, but by the time Lisa and Mieke have finished there are many jaws dropping. The performance ends not with a bang, but as it begins, with the acrobats each giving a one sentence adieu to the audience. As a theatrical device it makes structural sense, but it also helps the audience connect on a human level with these down to earth but amazing performers. Bravo! 5 stars Adrian Miller Out Of Chaos – Gravity And Other Myths continues at Scott Theatre, at various times, until Sun 3 Mar. Book at BASS on 131 246 or www.bass.net.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets. #ADLfest