Sun & Sea

You walk out of the rain and wind of summer and inside the Sydney Town Hall has been transformed into the playful world of the beach.

Dozens of actors are frolicking on a giant sandpit under the harsh glare of the sun. They are reading books, playing badminton, having a picnic, rubbing in suncream, drying themselves off, walking around and of course sunbaking. The bodies on display include children, middle age jelly tummies, taut teenagers and even one pet dog.

The ushers pushed the audience around the gallery of the Town Hall for sessions that last one hour.

A lush and esoteric soundscape accompanies the unchoreographed frolics. You search for who the solo singer of a particular song without success. The accompaniment is pre-recored whilst the singing is live.

The ushers later helpfully hand you a pamphlet with the libretto of the opera.

Sun and Sea opens with the “Sunscreen Bossa Nova”.

‘Hand it here, I need to rub my legs….

Cause later they’ll peel and crack

And chap

Hand it I will rub you….

Otherwise you will be red as a lobster.’

Many of the songs have great titles with delicious dollops of humour. 

They include “The Wealthy Mommy’s Song”, “The Workaholic Song”, “Song of Complaint” and “The Story of the Volcano Couple”.

It ends with an ominous warning of a world heated up where nature is only seen as replicated by a 3D printer.

My mother left a 3D printer turned on

And the machine began to print me out

When my body dies, I will remain

In an empty planet without birds, animals and corals.

This is a fun installation created by Lithuanian artists which would likely only be seen at a major festival. It creates an image and a message you can’t easily forget.

Review and images by David Spicer