ANOTHER DAY
Direction and production: Ash Searle and Vanessa Harris
Cast: Ash Searle, Lucy Tops, Nadine Theron, Ruby Burton, Darren Greeff, Brad Searle, Pasha Dos Santos
Venue: The New Kalk Bay Theatre and Restaurant
Until: Saturday
RATING: ***
Someone should ensure the availability of a fire engine in the precinct of Kalk Bay as the dancers in this new Follow Spot production ignite the stage with their performance. Their collective brio burns up the floor in a succession of dances Characterised by athleticism as choreography meets acrobatics.
Not a word is uttered in the course of the show (unless lyrics in accompanying songs count), but the narrative element in Another Day is quite clear: a couple are caught in a lacklustre marriage from which passion has departed, and we follow the progress of their relationship in a series of flashbacks that contrast poignantly with the uninspiring present.
A nice touch is the screening on the backdrop to indicate the number of days the marriage has endured, starting with Day 3 487, so the mathematically inclined can quickly estimate that roughly a decade has elapsed since they tied the knot.
A monochromatic set and prevalence of chic black-and-white costumes minimise visual distraction, leaving the eye free to focus on the dance, which is the great strength of this show. Furthermore, the few props furnishing the stage are cleverly devised to ensure maximum versatility with little fuss in their frequent rearrangement.
Vocalist Lucy Tops is at her most lyrical, delivering her agenda of songs with sweetness and commitment; each underscores the action and lends coherence to the narrative’s unfolding. Tops musters dramatic intensity and warmth, to show that she can act as well as sing; her persona as the unhappy wife is both credible and appealingly vulnerable.
Ash Searle, as the husband, likewise adds thespian ability to his special talent, namely dance – and whenever he appears his stage presence commands attention. Together with his brother Brad, Searle gives the impression that dancing is second nature to him, obedient muscles complying effortlessly with choreographic demands.
As for the trio of female dancers led by Nadine Theron, they raise the temperature to feverish heights with their sensuality, passion, and seductive moves. No shrinking violets here – and Theron’s ambiguous identity as the woman who captivates Searle becomes apparent towards the end of the evening: she is none other than the woman he married, but reliving the relationship of some years earlier.
Theron and Searle are volcanic in partnership, he treating her like a weightless doll; their control is enviable. No wonder she was placed among the top contestants in So You Think you Can Dance. Darren Greeff has the elegance of a classically trained ballet dancer, enlivened with some camp humour.
Highly recommended entertainment for those who enjoy song and dance as well as theatre.