After experiencing Smashed last year, I was keen to see what Gandini Juggling have come up with for their new show, Heka, playing at The Place as part of Mime London.
It promised magic, humour, and, of course, the skill of contemporary circus which has given Sean Gandini and his company their reputation.
The company numbers seven this time around, but it opens with one woman alone on stage, sitting at a long wide table. Curious things happen, including tricks and well-timed illusions.
With magic, the readiness to be deceived is what makes it work. So when other people join to juggle balls that multiply and disappear, we know we are being tricked, but that’s what we enjoy.
Gandini himself shares some philosophies of magic with us, from the likes of Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin (‘the father of magic’) to Teller. He plays on what we know, or think we know.
There are routines that are pure Juggling, with balls or hoops, with the snap timing you’d expect from a long-running troupe whose shorthand allows them to pre-empt movement and relax into routines.
Heka, a name inspired by the Egyptian goddess of magic, teases the audience and plays with what it reality and what is illusion. It also showcases the international diversity of the seven performers, who include a Spaniard, a Taiwanese, an Italian, a Finn, and an Ethiopian.
Tightly choreographed yet deeply absurd, Gandini’s new show is a celebration of human connection and the art of misdirection. It’s very much in the ‘now you see it, now you don’t” camp in its playfulness, while displaying the skill of the false gaze.
Director/performers Sean Gandini and Kati Yla-Hokkala founded Gandini Juggling more than three decades ago. As both personal and professional partners, their synergy and ease give the company a friendly edge.
With their additional performers (tonight Kate Boschetti, Tedros Girmaye, Doreen Grossman, José Triguero, and Yu-Hslen Wu), they create a fun and educational journey, with a final peek behind the curtain.
Guy Hoare’s lighting and a few props help the illusions to thrive, while Andy Cowton’s music enhances the provoking and spirited action on stage.
I’m giving this 5 stars.
An excellent show, Heka is The Place until 1 Feb and then tours through Feb and a few dates in May/Jun. For details go here.
Image credit: Gandini Juggling