Last Wednesday I had another such experience at Chapter in Cardiff - watching Earthfall's exhilarating dance piece 'At Swim Two Boys'. Fusing dance, live music and archive film, this is an adaptation of Jamie O'Neill's 2001 novel about the developing relationship between two young men in 1916 Ireland against the backdrop of World War I. The set was simple; a corrugated side of a container as a backdrop with a ladder that descended to a shallow pool of water. This is where the main action took place, performed by Daniel Connor and Murilo Leite D'Imperio; two amazing, versatile and physically fit young dancers. Their movements were dynamic, sensuous, and extremely energetic... and that's the reason why the audience front row had to be given plastic sheeting to cover themselves with.
You see there's water involved. Rather unusual for a stage performance. And these two guys don't so much swim as thrash about in it. Extremely energetically. And within the confines of the small space that is the Stiwdio there's not many places the water could go. Certainly not over the guys who were supplying the music, protected by a large sheet of perspex. So over the front row it went. And the back row too. But given there were only two rows (the Stiwdio is very small) the back row got a fair soaking too. Myself included.
But I didn't care; I was absolutely hypnotised and enthralled throughout the hour. Not only by the sheer stamina and talent of these guys but of the whole production - from the music, to the use of archive film (projected onto the backdrop), to the dizzying emotions that emanated from the ensemble. From elation to heartbreak, to (blush as I say this) raw lust as these guys stripped to nothing but briefs*... by the time I staggered back out into the streets of Canton I feel like I had emerged from a dream. A tangible, profound, erotic and, in the literal sense, very wet dream.
By which time I was dying for a pee. For some strange reason.
*pause for a breathless moment here
But I didn't care; I was absolutely hypnotised and enthralled throughout the hour. Not only by the sheer stamina and talent of these guys but of the whole production - from the music, to the use of archive film (projected onto the backdrop), to the dizzying emotions that emanated from the ensemble. From elation to heartbreak, to (blush as I say this) raw lust as these guys stripped to nothing but briefs*... by the time I staggered back out into the streets of Canton I feel like I had emerged from a dream. A tangible, profound, erotic and, in the literal sense, very wet dream.
By which time I was dying for a pee. For some strange reason.
*pause for a breathless moment here
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