Review: Rambert Dance Company’s Comedy of Change tour 2010 Clwyd Theatr Cymru in Mold

Mar 11 2010 by Naomi Dunning, Chester Chronicle

THREE contrasting works of humour, vibrancy and animal instinct make up the Rambert dance company’s 2010 tour.

At Clwyd Theatr Cymru in Mold the Comedy of Change tour was made up of Christopher Bruce’s Hush, Mark Baldwin’s Comedy of Change and Itzik Galili, A Lihna Curva. Each work is completely different but as audiences have come to expect all are performed to an exceptionally high standard by the world famous company.

The critically acclaimed Hush, directed by Christopher Bruce does live up to its hype and was a real treat to watch. Bruce’s work focuses around a family of a mother, father and four children, each with their own individual personality.

The piece is full of contrasts the fluid seamless duet of the mother and father compared to the fast, exciting and often frenetic movements of the children.

Audiences should watch out for the brilliant hunt for the noisy fly and the lullaby dance of the youngest daughter, they are different in nature but both a delight to watch.

What really makes this piece is it’s a comedy and it made the audience laugh out loud. The white makeup and clown like costumes add to its comic tone but also exaggerate the expressions of the performers drawing the audience into the story and making it accessible both to the youngest and the oldest audience member.

Mark Baldwin’s Comedy of Change is the feature piece for Rambert’s 2010 tour and was created in celebration of the Year of Darwin.

Black and white costumes allow the dancers to camouflage themselves into the black background hiding themselves away like small creatures in the undergrowth. Whereas their white fronts stand out brightly and allow the soloists to show off their individuality as a animal would do during a mating dance.

This piece would perhaps be more enjoyed by the serious minded dance enthusiast but that does not mean a novice can not appreciate it. The animal movements are clear to see, from insects crawling out of cocoons to the hopping, darting birds and the grand flamboyant mating dances performed in the solos.

There is an interesting use of tin foil towards the middle of the piece and it was a shame it distracted the audience from the other performers for quite as long as it did.

Be prepared for the threatening black and disturbing white head to toe costumes towards the end.

This is a beautifully danced and choreographed piece but not as universally appealing as the other two works performed in Mold.

The final piece is A Lihna Curva directed by Israeli choreographer Itzik Galili and is a colourful lively work filled with the atmosphere of Sao Paulo.

The large stage at Mold is ideal for this performance which is packed full of dancers, with large and striking routines. The carnival atmosphere is added to by the tribal, rhythmic chanting coming from the live orchestra which is often the only soundtrack to the dance. The athletic skill of the dancers is clear to see in a dance-off style section where the performers compete with each other and show off their most impressive moves. This is a superb, enjoyable piece which makes the audience want to get up and join in.

The Comedy of Change Tour 2010 is well worth a watch, and audiences will not be disappointed.

Clwyd Theatr Cymru in Mold from Wednesday March 10- Saturday March 13.