In Glass
Narelle Benjamin
Malthouse Theatre
Tickets: $23-$37
Until March 20
malthousetheatre.com.au
It is never a good thing, when at the end of an hour long piece, the audience are fidgeting in their seats. Alas, this was the case for Narelle Benjamin’s In Glass. With the tagline “looking at a mirror is looking into a mirror,” it should have been immediately obvious that the premise of the acclaimed choreographer’s work was already lacking.
Set to at times a scintillating, minimalist score by Huey Benjamin, Kristina Chan and Paul White did their best with what could at best be described as an indulgent study of reflections. Both Chan and White were consummate in their performance and are best described described as technical whizzes. However, under Benjamin’s guidance, the internalised structure of their displays made it difficult for an audience member to truly engage with their delivery. With Samuel James’ frustratingly needless projections added in to the mix, they offered only further distraction from the fine, grounded performance.
Given that the study of reflection is not new to the world of contemporary dance, or even theatre at that matter, the fact Benjamin never transcended the notion in its simplest form, had one audience remarking as they left the auditorium that they had done similar in dance at school.
Benjamin had at her disposal a pair of Australia’s finest dancing talents and though they still shone, they could have been put to far greater use. The audience sat in awe of their abilities and opposed to being transported with them on a magical journey.
