SOUTH: Touring
SOUTH: Vayu Naidu Company
Bham Rep ( 0121 236 4455) till 22 June and Touring
Runs: 2hrs: 20 minute interval
Review: Ranjit Khutan: 18th June 2003, The Door, Bham Rep
Flawed story-telling but with outstanding performances
Vayu Naidu works within the South Asian story-telling tradition. However there is a major problem with this work, it does not communicate to the majority of South Asian people young and old alike. The language used is confusing and the tone condescending, forcing me to wonder whom the work is for? I suspect it is trying to appeal to the typical middle class white theatre patron or even worse, to the new small elite of middle class South Asians.
The piece does begin well - man asks God for direction this being given through the journey that the sun takes. He then reflects on the directions - North, East and West and on his journey to these places he is met by people who relate stories to him. Naidu looks on dressed in a golden yellow gown with a rainbow of colours splashed across her representing the rich tapestry and colourful tales she has to tell or perhaps representing the golden sun that is guiding this journey.
However, the story soon becomes confusing and at times is unfocussed in its attempt to be clever. The use of modern day signposts throughout the story and then linking these to ancient tales works to an extent but there are too many loose ends and confusing moments. For example, why is man going on this journey, why didn't man get on the plane and what relevance do some of the stories have to the overall journey? I found the hybrid world confusing, trying to unpack the complexities of this piece of work tiresome. The problem is that the unpacking gives me no new insights to the world I live in now and it is a real shame that an opportunity to do this has been missed. The work of South Asian storytellers and there are a few around - is more healthily alive and actively linking with the real 21st Century UK than this version would have us believe.
On a more positive note the three performers are brilliant showing a multitude of skills and being able to move from one piece of dance to another with fluidity and ease. The combinations of different dance forms is as delightful as are the use of sound effects and music by Orphy Robinson playing many instruments live and receiving well deserved applause after an intense xylophone performance. If it were not for the richness and captivating performances of the dancers and musician this piece would have had me leave during the interval
Performers:
Vayu Naidu: storytelling
Orphy Robinson: Music and effects
Lia Prentaki: Contemporary Dance
Magdalen Gorringe: Bharatanatyam Dance
Shane Shambhu: Bharatanatyam Dance
Direction: Chris Banfield
Marsha Roddy: Set and Costume Design
Dee Ashworth: Lighting Design
Masks: David Grifiths
2003-06-21 10:00:50