Written by Allan Knee (Finding Neverland), Syncopation is set in New York City in 1913, in the dusty apartment of Henry Ribolow (Justin Stewart Cotta), a balding Jewish meatpacker and Polish migrant obsessed with becoming a famous ballroom dancer.
Anna Bianchi (Emma Palmer), an Italian Catholic seamstress, answers Henry’s unusual ad in the local paper: ‘Give your life a lift. Wanted: a dance partner to dance for royalty’. From the moment she nervously summons up the courage to answer Henry’s advertisement, sparks fly. There is a rather stiff, almost disastrous first meeting, but the two begin a journey that will change their lives.
Henry and Anna, who both at times act as narrator/commentator, attempt to bridge a cultural divide and (Anna especially) daringly flaunt social conventions in their attempts to build a brilliant professional dance partnership. Over the course of the show, Anna evolves from a shy, innocent, prim and proper young lady to a far more liberated and self-governed young woman.
The various social dances of the time – foxtrot, tango, waltz etc – are incorporated into the production, as are some ballet steps and ‘character’ work, as well as more traditional musical-style choreography. We see how Anna and Henry start off formally, nervous, uncertain and far apart, yet ultimately their barriers come down and they are as one in a magnificent dance partnership.
The outside world intrudes, partially because of Anna’s betrothal, but also because she becomes involved in protest marches as she gains self-confidence. We follow the ups and downs of their relationship, the various competitions they enter, and Henry’s mad publicity scheme for a ‘rescue’ performance on July 4 that rather falls flat…
A lot depends on the show’s casting of Anna and Henry, and Cotta and Palmer are excellent in their roles. As Anna says of Cotta as Henry, he doesn’t really fit the conventional idea of a ‘dancer’ but he is in fact wonderful, full of smooth grace. He can also be explosively temperamental at times, and has great comic timing. As petite, feisty Anna, Palmer is terrific, and also a glorious mover. Both perform with precision, power and panache.
Musically, we hear the infectious rhythms of Irving Berlin, Scot Joplin, George Gershwin and others, and songs such as ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’ and the ‘Maple Leaf Rag’ as Anna and Henry rehearse or perform.
Henry’s apartment, designed by Adrienne Chisolm, features vertical panelled wallpaper and a wind up gramophone. Her costume designs for Anna are at times ravishing – the white wedding dress is stunning and I loved the Ballets Russes influenced burnt orange dress for the finale. Mostly however Anna is very prim and proper, clad in a white blouse and dark blue or brown skirt. Henry in Act 1 is very untidy, rather dapper in Act 2.
Syncopation, which is defined as ‘rhythm accented on the offbeat’, examines the possibility of people from different cultural backgrounds and upbringings flourishing together. Generally the somewhat older audience quite enjoyed it. There are two very impressive performances in a show that, while a fusion of different theatrical genres which challenges artform boundaries, is also quite traditional in form and structure.
Rating: 3 ½ stars out of 5
Syncopation
By Allan Knee
Director: Stephen Lloyd Helper
Choreographer: Mark Hodge
Designer: Adrienne Chisolm
Lighting Designer: Luiz Pamphola
Sound Design: Darrin Verhagen
Associate Sound Designer: Ron Barlow
Cast: Justin Stewart Cotta and Emma Palmer
Running time: 2 hours 40 mins including one interval
Concourse Chatswood
July 10 – 14
Additional Dates:
Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, July 17 – 21
Riverside Theatres, Parramatta, July 24 – 28
