Part of the Grimebourn festival at the Arcola Theatre, this
is truly a show of two contrasting halves. In the first part, the audience are
treated to a rather melancholy and sombre interpretation of Pierrot Lunaire
that is difficult to understand.
Formed of a selection of 21 poems from Otto Erich
Hartleben’s German translation of Albert Giraud’s cycle of French poems,
Schoenberg’s melodrama doesn’t feel as though it has much purpose. This is
where Constella ballet and orchestra come in.
The music and dancing are strong and fluent throughout and
you do feel as though you are watching special talent emerge – particularly
Matt Petty as Pierrot, whose dancing is mesmerising throughout. In terms of the
singing, Emma Stannard has plenty of talent, although I felt it was a little
bit pitchy in places but she has lovely warmth to her vocals that were pleasing
to hear.
Visually, the set was a blank canvas, allowing the audience
to focus on the music and the dancing which was a perfect way to do it but
unfortunately this half still felt flat in terms of the mood and confusing
nature of the piece.
This is why it was a surprise that the second half Sideshows
was so optimistic and a joy to watch. Set in a circus, the audience are
introduced to clowns and all sorts of different characters performing in the
circus show.
It is full of silliness, from simple things such as hats
falling off, the ringleader (Leo Geyer) being chased by the dancing bear among
other elements. It certainly feels like it brings all the fun elements of the
circus to life.
But it is also a show that reveals how music can convey many
different things to the listener, such as the clowns communicating to the
ringleader through their instruments and the sounds they make. We don’t
understand exactly what is said but the audience still have some knowledge of
what is going on – a lot more in fact than in the first half.
The other plus to this part of The Clown of Clowns is that
the audience are made to feel involved more, a strong thing to be able to do in
an intimate space such as this and much more warmly received than the cool
distance in Pierrot Lunaire.
If there is a slight problem with the show it is that parts
of the staging for those sitting on the left hand of the stage (by the door as
you come in) your view is partially restricted by the clowns. But overall it is
a much stronger performance.
Both are interesting pieces but certainly Sideshows is
certainly the strongest out of the pair.
Review by Emma Claredon
Rating: ★★★
