Private View @ Odeon Theatre, Norwood SA
Adelaide Festival mainstays, Restless Dance Theatre, return in 2024 with a new, innovative production, Private View.
Australia’s foremost creator of dance theatre by dancers with and without disability brings diverse artists together to develop contemporary dance theatre from commonplace experiences. Their productions are often interactive, immersive, staged in nontraditional spaces, and continuously celebrate diversity.
“In the realm of human experience, the desire for intimacy transcends all boundaries,” director Michelle Ryan posits. Private View dissipates stigmatising barriers and rejoices in the expression of desires of people with disabilities.
Universal themes of love and desire are witnessed across four stages and Acts. Each stage is covered by sheer material, Venetian blinds, or Perspex. As the blinds open, the audience becomes voyeurs into the performative lives of the Restless dancers.
Stage one offers a whimsical, sincere interpretation of romance by Michael Hodyl. Stage two is a contemporary and quirky look at desire by Jianna Georgiou and Madalene Macera. Stage three is an emotionally communicative view of heartbreak by Bonnie Williams (guest artist). Stage four is a comical consideration of burgeoning young love by Darcy Carpenter and Charlie Wilkins with Rowan Rossi (guest artist).
The connecting force of each story is Carla Lippis.
Lippis (collaborator, singer, and composer) offers a live musical soundtrack at the beginning and end of the show. Her rich, velvety vocals adding a layer of mystique to an already mysterious setting.
However, her presence is seen and felt throughout. She skulks onto each stage, a shadowy figure lurking, occasionally participating but always watching. Her voyeurism rivals that of the audience. This is comforting, considering the intimacy shared on each stage. Lippis does not detract from the dancers who offer striking performances. In fact, she enhances the overall impression of the show.
Roz Hervey’s concept is brought to life by Ryan with the assistance of other creatives. Larissa McGowan’s choreography reverbe9/3/2024rates from eccentric and mischievous to emotively thoughtful with smooth fluidity. With the help of compositions from Lippis and Geoffrey Crowther, cinematography from Matt Byrne, and Matthew Adey’s lighting design, four stories sharing a mutual, relatable theme are stylistically expressed.
Private View is a captivating consideration of love and the power of desire in the 21st century. It is a mature and elevated production from Restless Dance Theatre, a gem in local Adelaide artistic endeavours. If you haven’t had the opportunity to explore the works of this company, do so. You won’t be disappointed.
Adelaide Festival Review By Anita Kertes