Backbone, now playing at the Vancouver Playhouse, is edge of your seat entertainment!
Photo: Carnival Cinema
Presented by The Cultch, Australian circus troupe Gravity and Other Myths (GOM) will literally throw your perceptions of circus out the window. Like other contemporary circus/physical theatre troupes, GOM tests the boundaries of the human body. Backbone strips down any flashy sets and theatrics, to put the 10 acrobats and their mesmerizing abilities front and centre. The company themselves also strip down to start the performance, swapping and changing clothing as they warm up with some tumbling and leaping. The show feels as though organically flows from beginning to end. Although it appears improvisational the movement is like a finely choreographed dance as the acrobats move from skill to skill. The warm up leads to balance tricks, many in motion as they walk across the stage while stand (up to four performers) tall on others’ heads or shoulders. An extended set of swinging, and tossing of performers high across the stage keeps the audience’s’ eyes busy following all the action. Backbone is full of brilliant action, I was afraid to miss a single twist, toss or tumble.
pic: Darcy Grant
The company fills the Playhouse Theatre with so much energy and fun, the gap between performer and audience shrinks as everyone shifts to the edges of their seats. The 10 members and 2 musicians, are on stage throughout the 80 minute show, tagging each other in and out of tricks to quickly change, or take a breathe. The trust and connectivity demonstrated by the company creates sexy, but not sexual, intimacy as the ten performers become one creative movement. In spite of the rough and raw sets and costumes of Backbone, the fluidity of their skills form a beautiful work.
Backbone will enchant everyone in the family, get your tickets soon.
Gravity and Other Myths’ Backbone, presented by The Cultch, is playing until November 4, 2018 at The Vancouver Playhouse Theatre, 600 Hamilton St.
for Showtimes and Tickets visit thecultch.com