ON/OFF

ON/OFF provides an evening of circus delights including thrills, heart in mouth intense moments and laughs. Although this is a showcase for individual talents with changes in large pieces of equipment, it is moulded into a coherent show by the very slick stage management (Edwina Guiness) and thoughtful use of recorded reflections on circus life by the cast. Each performance had individual background music to support the various personas presented.

All the above ground performers were startlingly good. They were precise, practiced and very sure. Tristan St John and Maya Davies on the Chinese pole demonstrated strong, controlled mastery. Dhananjaya Johnson, Dean Moran, Louis Green used straps to show off their strength and gymnastic prowess. The light box used by Louis Green added a visually entrancing perspective. The tissu performers displayed their flexibility and strength and caused grasps with their spectacular drops. Griffin Hooper (swinging trapeze) and Gabi Platus (dance trapeze) gave the audience heart in mouth thrills.

The contortionist, Gemma Truong demonstrated just what a fully trained body can do.

The lighter side of circus performance was provided by a very polished performance using drag sensibilities by the hoop performers, Harrison Sweeney and Ethan Harris-Cross.

The tight wire artists, Celso March and Courtney Strum added interesting storylines to their performances. Zahnee Kimmel (cyr wheel), Tim Simpson (acrobatics and whip), Jacob Kenner (hoop diving) and James Bartlett (ball and frame juggle) rounded out the show.

Tristan St John and Rosa Mourdant closed the show with charming duo acrobatics which demonstrated considerable poise, strength and skill.

NICA is providing a learning environment which develops both physical and performance skills to a professional level.

Ruth Richter

Photography: Daniel Rabin.