"Poetic physical theatre" by Veronika Riedlbauchová and Lucia Škandíková had the premiere in the Alfred ve dvoře Theatre in December. The first author graduated from directing-dramaturgy at DAMU, the second one studies stage design at the same school. They were inspired by the personality of sculptor Camille Claudel whose teacher was Auguste Rodin. The relationship of these two people is a central topic of the whole performance with two actors – Veronika Riedlbauchová as Camille and Robert Janč as Rodin. We meet them in the collage of fragments from Camille's life; at first she is a young student of sculpture and later she becomes a mature artist followed by demons.
The third actor and a full-featured partner of these two is stage design by Lucia Škandíková whose artistic feeling and style leave the greatest marks of impression. Carefully used "sculptures" – or their heads – elaborated in details in their inner meaning that will be revealed with their breaking at the end; nice costumes and cooperating light design by Adam Uzelac and Michal Cába's music contribute to a very good impression from the whole piece although it might be disappointing for dance fans. Performers are not professional dancers and therefore action on the stage is mostly "kinetic" but it fully uses possibilities of both people (Lucia Kašiarová collaborated on the motional part). Robert Janč is a bit more convincing from the acting point of view but Riedlbauchová catches up with fragility, decisiveness and charm of the French sculptor. Their mutual unfulfilled romance is an engine of the whole performance. They accompany it by mutual dynamic duets, separation and clashes of two unrestrained artists.
There are more well-elaborated parts in the performance; it also perfectly corresponds with space in Alfréd ve dvoře including a momentous involvement of viewers of shadow play on the wall of the theatre. It is good that it is possible to see this kind of kinetic theatre on the Czech stage. Camille is a perfect performance for those who would not go to see dance or those who need more of a story and appreciate good stage design, props and costumes. You can see work and enthusiasm the authors invested in this performance.
Written from the premiere on 6th December 2009.
Translation: Eliška Hulcová
Translation: Eliška Hulcová
Josef Bartos
Thank you for your thoughts. One got stuck in my mind – that passion makes us different from AI. Just yesterday I read…I am a dance critic. I am a member of an endangered species