Pancake Opus

Pancake Opus is a hunky and cathartic performance written and performed by Sandra Fiona Long. This show has been cleverly designed as an opus like structure, featuring many composite skits revolving around the making of pancakes.

Long basks in a dim light as she reels off words of sadness, loneliness and intimacy. She revolves around the kitchen bench adorned by hanging utensils, wearing a signature apron pronouncing her love of cooking; her culinary skills reek of anarchic confidence and brazen abandon. Her children are nagging for pancakes; oblivious to their demands she instinctively whips up a batter and leaves it to rest.

She recalls her childhood days on the beach and the loud crashing waves, and the nostalgic reflections of overseas parcels of winter woolies made from hand me down yarn from her grandmother. The stories tie in with her own endeavors to find connection with her childhood and herself.

The clever sound design and video projection are well mastered to create layers of effect. Her performance combines with visual projection of her daughter grooving to music to reflect generational family simulcra. She positions herself outside of her selfless mothering domain and lets herself roll with her lonely free spirit, to seek adventure.

Long centers herself back to the kitchen, a sense of place, warmth and belonging. Her nagging kids are persistent, pancakes done and handed out to the audience.  The lighting, set and sound design are all persistently well composed to balance out the impromptu nature of the show.

An intriguing and interesting performance!

Flora Georgiou