I elected to review a few productions from this year’s New Zealand Fringe Festival – both of these productions, Mountain Woman and PeoplePeople, are currently available to rent from C Arts.
Mountain Woman – Ariel Bittner
Ariel Bittner’s half-hour movement piece captures the life cycle of both humanity and the Earth through the moments that define a volcano.
Bittner performs before a screen, her costumes matching the colours in the video. As the elements combine through the volcano, we see how it contributes to creation and devastation.
Fire forks out like greedy tongues. Water seeps through crevices. Air brings winds and hurricanes. It is raw and visceral, uncompromising and immersive.
In person, the combination of visuals, music, video, and expressive dance is supplemented by scent; obviously, that element is missing in a recording. The set and costumes are made from reclaimed, recycled, and natural materials.
Mountain Woman explores the female spirit as nurturer, creator, and balancer. In the persona of the volcano, Bittner challenges us to reflect on the seasonal and climatic cycles that drive our planet.
www.arielbittner.com
instagram.com/_mountain._.woman_/
Rent at: https://res.cthearts.com/event/34:5053/34:82152/
PeoplePeople – tarinainanika
I previously reviewed another piece produced by tarinainanika, Rey Camoy. That was inspired by different paintings, pulling together a set of stories.
PeoplePeople is rather different. A stream of consciousness from five performers communicating in their own languages (Japanese, Chinese, and English), this show introduces the characters of Professor, Punk, Pierrot, Patient, and Pupil.
It is a piece of physical theatre from out of left field, goading the audience to react in whichever way feels right. It is often profound- do opt for the subtitles that translate into English. It is almost always funny.
Using the language of Corporeal Mime, nothing about PeoplePeople is left to chance. Created and performed by Tomoki Nonaka, Ruxun Dai, Teruya Sugimoto, Masaya Tsujimoto and Harry Dean, the show is directed by Kentaro Suyama and Tania Coke.
Music by Coke and Henry Morse is just as important as the movement to PeoplePeople. Leaning into its absurdity, the show asks who we are, how we get here, and where we are going. The performers often move in unison, but their motivations are complex and diverse.
Surreal, absurd, stylish and unusual, PeoplePeople offers another window into what makes tarinainanika tick. At just 45 minutes, it is easily consumed and enjoyed.
www.tarinainanika.com
patreon.com/tarinainanika
facebook.com/tarinainanika
instagram.com/tarinainanika