Circus ensemble Casus.
Driftwood, the latest work from Brisbane contemporary circus ensemble Casus is a pared back but delight filled hour of contemporary circus. In Driftwood many of the strengths unique to this genre are on display: it’s unpretentious and authentic, intimate and relaxed – all without failing to impress with tortuous stunts and deft acrobatics.
The stated theme of Driftwood is the transient and shifting nature of human relationships – as if buoyed along by the currents of fate like pieces of driftwood; however, it seems to function as a more of a unifying aesthetic than a central and essential concept upon which the work is built on.
Set in the iconic Spiegeltent for Brisbane Festival, the show opens with the entire ensemble of five on stage performing as a unit, undulating through a series of hypnotic formations. From there, it moves through a series of solo, duo and trio acts with the performers grouping together, dispersing and then regrouping in seemingly every combination possible; ostensibly a metaphor for the various relationships that fall in and out of throughout life.
The mood of the acts ranges from ethereal to tender to playful and silly, with moments at each ends of the range that has the audience on the edge of their seat. The solo lyra act set to Katie Noonan’s cover of Gotye’s Heart’s A Mess is a mesmerising standout, as are the fiendish stunts involving a metal pole that expands ones conception of what’s possible in this genre. There is a raw and unfinished quality to the work which lends itself to a sense of authenticity and facilitates intimacy with the audience, however, the downside of that is the brief moments when the performers seem to falter and the act doesn’t seem as polished as it could be.
Each of the elements accompanying the performances are remarkably well done, from the music selection which includes the likes of Aphex Twin and Madeleine Peyroux to the lighting which ranges from soft, ethereal white light to neon technicolour. Combined with the atmosphere of the Spiegeltent itself, there are moments when magic is created on stage.
Driftwood’s greatest strength is its inventiveness and originality; the acrobatic skill of performers are used to create novel images and convey ideas, rather than moving through a standard body of circus tricks. It’s unpredictable, out of the box, and seasoned audiences of theatre and circus can expect the unexpected.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Driftwood
Casus Circus
Performers: Natano Faanana, Jesse Scott, Lachlan Mcaulay, Kali Retallack & Phoebe Carlson
The Spiegeltent, Brisbane Festival
19-24 September 2017
