Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained
A desire to risk, to experience excitement, when somebody, whether intentionally or not, is gradually drawn towards the edge between life and death, these are the essential features of the characters of all acrobats and new circus performers. What else motivates people to recklessly throw their bodies on all kinds of trampolines, teeterboards and let themselves down from side curtains and similar contrivances without any protection? The new circus company Cirk La Putyka ventured this time into a realm that is unmistakably typical of them - courage and fearlessness.New production Risk by Cirk La Putyka is once again filled with adrenaline, it was created in an international milieu involving two foreign companies - Circus Cirkör from Sweden and the French Cahin Caha within the scope of the project LACRIMAE. Audiences could see the early output of their collaboration at the Letní Letná festival in August last year. In addition to foreign artists, Cirk La Putyka also employed handicapped and incredibly charismatic Petr Valchář, who set the tone of the second half of the show.
The first part was dominated by psychopathic psychologist Jiří Kohout. The audiences experienced a crazy session, attended by various apparently weird, difficulties-facing individuals. "Dr. Crazy" was trying to cure them through their own deviations or experiences of fear. Individual parts were rather etude-like and did not follow one another rigorously, which made dispositions of each of the artists stand out. Walking on beer mugs, fireworks frolics, dodging flying darts, falling to the ground on fixed bayonets, jumping on a trampoline with a knife in hand... these are some of the moments of the abundant and perhaps too lengthy and oversophisticated show that will stick in one’s mind long after the performance is over.
The second half had a much more dynamic character. A young man in a wheelchair, who was in the first part repeatedly forced to the corner now welcomes all who are present to his world that is imbued with the images of wheelchair wheels and with limited motion. Employment of different-sized rings provides new means of movement expression. In addition to juggling, rings are used also as a means of transport that performers move with their own bodies to make some impressive creations (choreography by Thomas Steyaert). The rings also refine the action on a trampoline. The production culminates in the moment when the hands of Petr Valchář replace gymnastic rings, on which Zuzana Havrlantová moves and floats in a feather-like manner.
At first, risk as the common denominator of both parts is not so obvious. In the introductory part risk takes on the features of a youthful irresponsibility and romp, whereas in the second part it is present in the form of exceeding one’s limits, in the struggle with the limitations of one’s own body. Risk is in the very nature of Petr Valchář, who in the accompanying footage of the rehearsals says: "Money and fear, these are the only things I’ve never come across...", which somewhat lightens up the atmosphere that might otherwise in certain moments look a bit too straightforward with some deliberate touches of sentiment. Projection is also used in a kind of dreamlike fantasy, in which the performers transform in a herd of horses, they organize a fe
ast somewhere in the meadow and surround the handicapped one, who explores the magic of an unlimited motion in the water world.Risk is a success, although it might be worth considering to cut and reduce the first part a bit. As with the previous productions (except for Slapstick sonata), Cirk La Putyka have once again chosen a time-proven live musical accompaniment (this time with Jan Balcar, Andrej Rády and Jan Kletenský), set design and visual appearance of the performers (costumes, makeup, hairstyles) were impressive too. Performances by all artists were, apart from few slip-ups, indeed remarkable. It is obvious that this international collaboration has pushed the potential of Cirk La Putyka yet one step further.
Written from a public dress rehearsal on January 16th and the opening night on January 17th, 2013.
Performers: Peter Valchář, Jiří Kohout, Zuzana Havrlantová, Kajsa Bohlin, Marc Brillant, Mikko Karhu, Petter Wadsten, Jan Balcar, Andrej Rády, Jan Kletenský
Director, concept: Rosťa Novák et al.
Music: Jan Balcar, Andrej Rády and Jan Kletenský
Stage design: Rosťa Novák, Miloslav Vácha and Hynek Dřízhal
Costumes, Make-up: Kristina Záveská
Artistic collaboration: Lukáš "Musa" Musil
Hair stylist: Lenka Habártová, Jan Balcařík
Sound design: Jan Středa, Robert Matoušek
Lighting design: Jan Mlčoch, Ondřej Kyncl
Choreography: Thomas Steyaert
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