Review – Fright or Flight
Blending absurdist physical theatre and circus, Australian ensemble 3 is a Crowd become three unlikely hatchlings in Fright or Flight. This is the second outing of the show at Adelaide Fringe Festival – it won the “Best Circus and Physical Theatre Award” when it premiered last year – and the first collaboration from seasoned artists Rockie Stone, Bianca Mackail and Olivia Porter. And I can’t wait to see what they do next!
This is conceptual circus, where the focus is on using movement, theatrics and quirky costuming to explore the fight-flight-freeze response. The scene is set with the blindfolded chicks bludgeoning each other with rolled up newspapers, and the fun continues with a silliness rating that barely drops below a ten through the enchantingly skilful aerial hoop and rope routines. These talented circus ladies are convincingly transformed through their bird-like movements, calls and their hilarious facial expressions. A crow and a chicken peck at each other, and then gang up on the poor little blackbird who was just trying to figure out how to raise her eggs. Speaking of eggs, the scene where Ms Blackbird lays her brood had the kiddies in the audience asking their parents some entertainingly difficult questions.
If you thought you’d seen enough circus this Fringe, think again. Experimental and bizarre circus that is as captivating as Fright or Flight is as rare as hen’s teeth. You will laugh at the parley between the kooky characters. You will be enthralled by the aerial acrobatics and bottle balancing. You will want to buy the soundtrack. And you will definitely want to take these weird creatures under your wing.
