Company Chordelia: Revel, St Andrews review: 'funny, moving and empowering'
Company Chordelia’s new show demonstrates that, while high leaps and fast twirls may be a thing of the past for older dancers, they have other gifts to share. Review by Kelly Apter
Revel, Byre Theatre, St Andrews ★★★★
The ageing process gets to us all eventually, if we’re fortunate enough to stick around. For those who earn a living via their physical bodies, however, the slow decline hits a little harder. In their funny, moving but ultimately empowering new production Revel, Company Chordelia take both a universal and specific approach.
On the one hand, when performers Kally Lloyd-Jones and Steinvör Palsson bemoan no longer sleeping through the night, needing glasses to read, being forgetful, and having to watch what they eat and drink, the reference points for anyone over 50 come thick and fast. No longer being able to do the splits, bend over backwards, or execute the classical ballet jump known as entrechat, meanwhile, will obviously only speak to a certain demographic.
But change and loss are things we all experience, so while this wryly named “coming of age” tale is about dancers grappling with life in their 60s, there is much here for all to enjoy. The show opens with Lloyd-Jones and Palsson in a dressing room, startled by the fact they only have nine hours until showtime. Painful warm-ups, checklists of vitamins and health foods, costume zip dramas and crises of confidence all follow as they prepare to take the stage.
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Solo routines bursting with vibrancy rub shoulders with supportive duets, where the women lean into each other, both physically and emotionally. They may need Barbie dolls to demonstrate what their once flexible bodies could do, but the duo need no assistance in keeping us entertained. Palsson’s dry wit and mature assurance is the perfect foil to Lloyd-Jones’ playful girlishness and insecurity. High leaps and fast twirls may be a thing of the past for older dancers, but they have a whole range of new gifts to share.
Revel by Company Chordelia is at Dunoon Burgh Hall, 19 September and on tour across Scotland until 23 October, see www.chordelia.co.uk
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