Assembly
Seven aerialists turn a dark Assembly Music Hall into a dreamlike world of rope, pulleys, and piano and jaw dropping choreography. Presented by One Fell Swoop Circus, from Melbourne Australia.
Most acts are silent with a music score bridging seamless rope transitions of drops, inversions, foot-locks and releases. On display the aerial artists demonstrate strength, balance, and trust.
While the cast are mostly silent and artistic, it’s the few vocal interruptions that stole it for us: mock-rehearsal acting, shouting, and playful cast interactions that made these gravity-defiers suddenly feel like friends playing and having a bit of banter. Our mini-reviewer loved those parts. An injection of personality made us feel part of the playing and if we imagine really hard, believe for a moment we too could balance and glide on aerial rigging.
Rope and pulleys mean range is tightly bound which can lead to repetition on some sequences. Shout out to the female base work which was impressive to see the synchronised partner work.
Assembly Music Hall is a large venue with sloped seating rows, ensuring good visibility. Most of the performance is above stage level so both stalls and dress circle should have good visibility. This review was made during the previews when acts are settling in new routines and new spaces.
(Written by Kieren Geaney)
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