Boop

Set in a suburban supermarket, a tense and batty competition is taking place. To win the admiration of their boss and a badge that reads “Special”, two employees perform athletic feats of sheer lunacy on precariously balanced bits of clear acrylic. One is an eager, newly-hired cashier. The other? A seasoned employee who happens to be a bagel-spitting squawking chicken-woman hybrid. Or, is she an actual chicken? Who knows!

This is a delightful, crazy and very silly show, featuring apparatus inspired by the inside of a grocer’s, like shopping trolleys and Perspex dividers. On the night I attended the team was down one member, but I wouldn’t have realized if I hadn’t overheard the performers explaining.

The show incorporates some impressive tumbling, juggling, and the work on the aforementioned Perspex sheet is deceptively difficult—with it balanced like a see saw with one team member swinging underneath while another presses to a handstand on the other side, or a lot could have gone wrong if the positioning or timing were just a bit out. There are a few very gentle points made about consumerism along the way. The performers are clearly enjoying themselves enormously which is always wonderful to watch. Karina Schiller’s gymnastic background complements Aleshanee Kelso and Dylan Singh’s acrobatic prowess wonderfully. There is a little discussoin about the evils of commerce which might give kids a little to think about.

This is a daft, funny, joyful work performed by a lithe, flexible talented group. Anyone who enjoys the circus will love it, but the humour will particularly appeal to children and teenagers.  

Cathy Bannister

Images by (lower 2) Darren Gill and (top) Dan Rabin.