Chunky Move's production Mortal Engine is a stage show like no other. The white sloping stage acts as the perfect backdrop for the lights and images, and a most interesting set for the dancers. The front panels of the stage ingeniously lift up, creating vertical walls for the dancers to move against. This is seen mostly in the duets. As the movements create sound and light, the audience becomes entranced with how all three are connected and the ever-changing representations of mood.
The Show - Mortal Engine
Sydney, Australia - 15/5/2010 at The Sydney Theatre.
The show begins with nothing but a swirling white light against a black stage, accompanied by the thunderous, industrial music composed by Ben Frost. As the darkness lifts the stage becomes illuminated. There is a sole dancer slowly moving her body and contorting with the music and lights. This is the first taste the audience is given, and sets the premise for the hour-long show.
As the dancers move on the sloping platform, performing lifts, mirroring each other's movements, and, with quick contortions, entwining with others, they demonstrate great strength, control and balance. To move in such interesting, generally unnatural, ways while remaining on the slanted platform is in itself something to marvel at. While the moves may become repetitive, the reaction of sound and light produced for every movement in every scene is different and keeps the show exciting. Through infrared cameras and a computer system, every sound and lighting effect is a direct response to the movement and actions on stage. It is truly the engine responding to the mortal.
Notable Scenes
There are three scenes that stand out, the first being towards the beginning of the performance, when the lone dancer who opened the show is joined by the others who attempt to bring her into their circle. As they creep and crawl towards her, she climbs and slides away, and the music goes from dramatic to peaceful as the lights alternate between light and dark. This was most prominent as it showed, with all three media of light, sound and movement, the struggle of being forced into society, while attempting to maintain one's solitude.
The second outstanding scene involves two dancers standing against the vertical screen hand in hand. As they move away from one another, the sound of them being peeled off the wall is echoed throughout the theatre. Their partner doesn't let them go too far, as they are quickly pulled back with exquisite and exciting movements. This scene highlights the superb timing with the sound and really shows the link between movement and sound especially.
The third memorable scene was is the final one of the performance. As the theatre is shrouded in darkness once more, the audience is struck by a single electric green strobe light and smoke filling the entire theatre. The fast, heavy music, matched with the quick movements of the strobe light, make it seem as if all the energy from the rest of the show was stored for this last scene. As one lone dancer is left on the ground in front of the platform, the strobe light moves with urgency as if searching. While the rest of the troop is performing, all attention seems to be placed on the strobe light and the lone dancer. One could assume the search was for that one dancer, as the others leave the stage, the light becomes fixed on her and as the smoke works with the light, a smoke wall is formed around her. The performance comes to a close with our lone dancer and her saviour, moving up the platform backwards towards the light. The theatre is then draped in darkness once more.
Was she the mortal who controlled the engine? Did the engine capture her? Some questions can never be answered as the lights turn back on, Chunky Move step out to take their bow and bid the audience farewell.
Mortal Engine Schedual
Opens: 5th May 2010
Closes: 15th May 2010
Chunky Move go on to Canberra, Australia from May 26th to May 9th for their next production Glow.Look out for Glow coming to Sydney, Australia from October 13th to October 16th at the Seymour Centre.
Christine Caruana - My name is Christine, I am an aspiring music journalist. I am currently a writer for Loud Australia Magazine where so far I have ...
