In a small space tucked away down a laneway and down a flight of stairs, new Brisbane-based company AniLuca launched their premiere production; a show which proved a ‘pop-up’ theatre experience could still be a rewarding one.
On the final night of their three-night run of After Boom Boom, the enthusiasm was still fresh from the performers and musicians who filled the cosy (but bordering on cramped) surrounds of the Bird Gallery and Studio. While more effective as an artists’ space than as a theatre, it served well for the night’s performance.
Approaching the studio from the main street, the show started early as patrons were greeted by a decorated laneway and a masked performer who ushered them downstairs and toward their seats.
Masks were the major feature of the evening, with the selection of short, largely silent and mostly sweet works employing the use of these creative tools.
As it was their first offering to theatre-goers, the company took the opportunity to perform a collection of vignettes which served to welcome everybody to AniLuca’s house style. Most of these incorporated the use of interestingly animated Larval masks, which came in many forms; other mask styles on show were Pantomime Blanche, Commedia dell’Arte performance masks, a red nose and the human face.
The Larval masks proved very effective in the gentle comedy of The Audition, where two students attempt to impress a harsh judge, and also in the titular work, another comedy in which two grandmothers quarrelled over a balloon.
Each of the skits were separated by a moment of music to further stamp this as a showcase performance for the group, with the musicians partially hidden behind a curtain seated alongside the audience.
A later scene entitled Dreaming showed off the casts’ pasts as members of a choir, and also gave the three musicians their chance to share the main stage.
Perhaps the highlight of the night was director and performer Johanna Fluhrer’s solo Pantomime Blanche piece, Pierrette’s Abyss, featuring a stock (female) pantomime character. Fluhrer used her incredibly expressive face and playing to draw the audience in to the story of Pierrette and her cello’s journey through the canals of Venice.
For the company’s next production they may be expected to further develop their ideas; nonetheless, this was a good collection of short works to show off their range of styles.
A win for do-it-yourself theatre; it may not have been a perfectly polished presentation, but it made up for any deficiencies with heart.
Rating: 3 ½ stars out of 5
After Boom Boom
By AniLuca
Directed by Johanna Fluhrer
Cast: Johanna Fluhrer, Ashleigh Crane, Svetlana Seaman, Lachlan Snow, Eliza Stubbs, Joshua White
Musicians: Ben Ellerby, Joe Fallon, Tomas Marko Miljenovic
Costumes and Masks: Theatre Elan
Lighting: Pronellx
Stage Manager: Jen Fluhrer
Visual Artist: Mim Fluhrer
Filmmaker: Stephanie Payne
Photographer: Korcan Meydan
Bird Gallery and Studio, Brisbane
9 – 11 December
