EVIDANCE RADIO- ab intra

ab intra in the Toronto Fringe Festival 2011

Thu, 07/14/2011 - 18:09 — Beverley Daurio

ab intra
Choreography/Dancers: Kate Nankervis, Amanda Acorn, Elke Schroeder
Toronto Fringe Theatre Festival
Tarragon Theatre Mainspace

REVIEWED BY TED FOX FOR EVIDANCERADIO.COM

The Bonne Compagnie's production of ab intra is gripping, dream-like and at times humorous, with exciting movement vocabulary.
In three solos, women react and come to terms with the memories housed within their bodies. Since they are in the same room, and all have sometimes similar reactions, one wonders if the room is feeding memories of each to each other.
The room has a desk, a lamp and a table. The lamp is the main light source, leaving the room enclosed within darkness.
One woman (Kate Nankervis) launches paper airplanes, lies corpse-like on the desk under the lamp's surgical light, listens to the wall or moves and gestures robotically. Another (Amanda Acorn) slithers snake-like across the floor, pulls and stretches trying to straighten up and regain balance, only to be flattened. The last woman (Elke Schroeder) has the twisted grotesque feral movements of one possessed. Splayed on the floor, she grips the back of her head with her hand, as if trying to put it back on.
All go through a sort of release mentally and physically that is transforming and liberating.
The soundscapes by Linedrawing, Christopher Wiles and J-P Tamblyn utilize textures of sound waves, underwater sonar, radio static, muffled voices, even Elvis Presley and a bit of ragtime. These sounds suggest waves of memories caught in a suspension of time.

MOONEY ON THEATRE.com

http://www.mooneyontheatre.com/2011/07/14/ab-intra-bonnie-compagnie-2011-toronto-fringe-review/

 

ab intra (Bonnie Compagnie) 2011 Toronto Fringe Review

By Nadaa Hyder

ab intra at the Tarragon Theatre is an amazing dance performance.
There are three props – a desk, a chair, a floor lamp – three acts and three dancers – one for each act.
Each dancer focusses on a different part of their body, one with beautiful yet incredibly eery expressions. One with unusual hand and arm movements that seem disjointed and alienated. And one with wild hair and (sometimes) immobile legs.

Each of them has such wonderful control of their body and with subtle nuances and twitches there is a quality to the show like no other. The emotions they are conveying come through incredibly well. There are moments when my heart is racing and my body can’t hold still, then there are other times when I feel relaxed and my mind wanders a little, and I am able to pay closer attention to the props and composition of the stage.

The choice and use of props was spectacular. There are beautiful lines that are created on stage. In one particular case all four (three props and the one dancer) are on their sides. This is one of my favourite moments of the show as there is a gorgeous symmetry that is created on the stage.

The choreography also relays this line and shape in the movement of the bodies. There are variations of elongation and being balled up that are used continuously. These offer a tremendous visual quality as well as emotional roller-coaster.

The lighting does not overpower, yet simply enhances the show. Unlike normally though, it is very noticeable and cannot be overlooked. It is an integral part of the play.

The exact same applies for the music. There is a combination of sampling some oldies and distorted sounds, white noise and unidentifiable fragments of conversations. The sounds are very well suited for this style of performance. In fact, the lighting and sound are so beautifully coordinated together that they push the show to another level.

This show is beautiful yet eery. I enjoyed it immensely due to this reason. For those who are looking for an experience, one that will give them a shake, this is perfect. I haven’t seen dance like this before, and I have to say, I am truly blown away.

Details:
ab intra is playing at Tarragon Theatre Mainspace (20 Bridgman Ave.)
Show times:
Sat, July 16 12:30 PM
Sun, July 17 7:30 PM
All individual Fringe tickets are $10 ($5 for FringeKids) at the door (cash only).
Advance tickets are $11, available online at www.fringetoronto.com, by phone at 416-966-1062, in person at The Randolph Centre for the Arts, 736 Bathurst Street