Mazzilli dance theatre
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'For How Much?' Review 2

5/16/2012

2 Comments

 
The second performance of the night – “For How Much?” – was a much bigger affair. With a carefully dressed set, a mixture of live and recorded music and a diverse cast of varying fields of expertise, Mazzili Dance Theatre created a piece that was moving and uplifting, yet poignant and thought-provoking at the same time.

I’m a real fan of Theatre that can make me feel 2 conflicting emotions simaltaneously – I guess this stems from a fascination of Dystopian Literature and a longing to grasp the art of “Double Think” (!) – and “For How Much?” definitely achieved this. Whilst every one of the cast was quite obviously a credit to the Dance-world, I must say, Donovan Morris’s performance was captivating.  He had just the right balance of creepy, perverted slime, humor and elegance needed to put us all on the edge of our seats!

Spotting a piano in the corner of the room, discreetly covered by a black sheet, right at the beginning of the first performance, I was dying to know if and when it would be used. My heart lept as, a few scenes into this piece, a pianist came out and started playing.  Andy Higgs (Composer) created music that beautifully complimented the tones of the performance – light, humorous, but with threatening and fragile flashes. Whilst live music in performance can sometimes overwhelm, this definitely did not. Giving it an extra layer, a new texture, of meaning.

All in all, as much as I was confused and slightly unsure of my feelings towards the first performance – “Underfoot” – and utterly moved by the second – “For How Much?” – the night as a whole was incredibly enjoyable and I left feeling far more open to the concept of ‘Dance Theatre’. As a whole, it definitely inspired me to want to see me, take risks and be more receptive to that which I previously did not always understand.

And, I really liked the ‘present’ Mazzili gave all of us, too.  That was very sweet and strongly grounded the internal logic of the piece. Pretty good for a Thursday night!

Written by Sophie Porter on May 13, 2012
www.whatsonthestage.com

2 Comments

'For How Much?' Review

5/15/2012

1 Comment

 
The second piece in this double bill is a dance theatre creation by Annarita Mazzilli, of Mazzilli Dance Theatre. 
For How Much? was originally created for the International Organisation for Migration’s
Buy Responsibly campaign, to highlight the issue of forced labour around the world.  

The intriguing choreography demonstrates the brutality of a world where bodies are robbed of their souls, forced to work against their will.   The piece demonstrates order and chaos, hope and despair: the dancers, distressed workers, travel through the stage robotically, the living-dead, deprived of their spirit. Dancer Donovan Morris, entering the stage with his tongue sticking out and a vicious smile on his face, rendered perfectly the sneaky and coldly abusive employer, unashamed of the fear he imposes.  The dancers are scared, hurt, hands up to the sky, trying to reach an uncertain, better future. 
They translate the choreographer’s emotions perfectly, switching from sorrow to anger, pushing desperately against the walls of the stage to try to escape their reality, and letting loose on the floor in wild movement, refusing to silently accept their misery.  They dance together and with each other, while the boss, smirking, rubbing his hands, uses them to his advantage.

 Annarita Mazzilli is excellent; her energy fills up the room, her facial expressions vivid.  Each of the dancers are also able to show their strength and personality in this work, proving their impressive technique as well as their performing skills.  The music, composed and played live by
Andy Higgs, adds emotion and depth to Mazzilli’s work.  The use of coins for props is interesting: the dancers, throwing themselves desperately on the ground, ready for anything to catch a few coins dropped to the floor, painting a convincing picture of the horror of forced labour, and the mixed feelings of anger and hopelessness.

A  powerful and deeply human choreography, performed with energy and emotion, For How Much? is thought-provoking and moving.  

Continues to Sat 12 May & Thu 17 – Sat 19 May, 8pm.
Blue Elephant Theatre, 59a Bethwin Rd, Camberwell SE5 0XT
Tickets £9 ( conc. £6, Southwark residents £4)
www.blueelephanttheatre.co.uk

reviewed by Emmanuelle Julien - Friday 11 May 2012
http://londondance.com/articles/reviews/katja-nyqvist-mazzilli-dance-theatre/
1 Comment

    Annarita Mazzilli

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