The Host

The Host
Ballet by Natalie Weir. Music by Shostokovich, Prokofiev, Bartock, Bach and others.. Played by Southern Cross Solists. Musical Director: Tania Frazer. Expressions Dance Company. Cremorne Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane. 1-9 May 2015.

Natalie Weir’s new ballet The Host takes us into a world of manipulation and control amongst guests around an elegant dinner party. It’s surrealist and in some ways a distant cousin to Luis Munuel’s movie The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, with a touch of the austere world of Chekhov thrown into the mix as well. But regardless, it’s a work that is beautifully realised by this young company of outstanding dancers.

 

Choreographically it’s athletic and angular, extremely sensual but not erotic. Jack Ziesing embodies the role of The Host with a hypnotic allure and executes Weir’s sometimes difficult moves with grace. In this bizarre power-play he undoubtedly calls the shots. Elise May as the Hostess has class, matched Ziesling’s intensity, and danced with passion.

Others to do good work were Benjamin Chapman as the Wannabe, and Daryl Brandwood as the Has-Been. Rebecca Hall was a perky Party Girl, while Michelle Barnett’s Younger Woman proved she could more than hold her own against her competitors. Cloudia Elder, a trainee in her first professional year with EDC, was spectacularly impressive as the Insecure Girl. She has a bright future.

The Host feels very European, particularly Russian, which is enforced by the use of music from Shostokovich and Prokofiev who were the perfect guests at this dinner party. As played by the brilliant Southern Cross Soloists string quartet, the music added immensely to the mood and timbre of the piece.

The European feel was also enhanced by the classical lines of Gail Sorronda’s costume design, and by Ben Hughes’ arresting lighting plot.

The Host is a more than worthy addition to EDCs permanent repertoire and a perfect vehicle for touring.

Peter Pinne

Photographer: Megan Cullen.

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