Photo by Jorg Baumann
Strange Choices
by Beat Rice
After a spectacular presentation of Dark Matters at Canadian Stage in 2012, expectations and anticipations were high for the return of Crystal Pite and the Kidd Pivot company, with the premiere of The Tempest Replica.
As interesting as the piece is, it fell short of amazing or impressive. There were a few select scenes that were imaginative and danced beautifully, but as a whole the production did not hit us the same way Dark Matters did, even with the strong storyline.
The Tempest Replica tells a summarized story of Shakespeare's The Tempest through movement, projection, and a few lines of text. It starts with Prospero, folding tiny paper ships as the house enters. The show opens with the shipwreck and a massive storm. This was perhaps the most effectively staged part of the show and it was within the first five minutes. A large billowing fabric mimics the tumultuous waves and the four dancers depict the chaos of being in a torrential storm.
