*
A review from 5D Music & Theatre writer Maria Robertson.
*
Described as a contemporary dance show about song, based mostly around karaoke, this sounded like a fun and interesting evening. Perfectly Serviceable dance company, run by Lewys Holt, is currently touring the country performing it. There are still two dates left, in Wolverhampton and Derby.
Walking into the dance studio there was a simple set with a silver shimmery curtain behind a microphone and laptop, and a couple of guitars in the back corner. 3 dancers and a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter took to the stage and we were off on a magical experience. The dancers took it in turns to sing at the microphone, in front of the spotlight with the shimmery curtain behind them, whilst the other 2 would dance around. There was a vague story running through of the awkwardness and self-consciousness of singing karaoke. Sometimes the words come out wrong, or in the wrong tune, or not at all. The dancers had a tag system that they would take over from each other, at varying speeds throughout different songs.
*
Some of the time the dancing seemed very impromptu and seemingly improvised, whereas other pieces were very carefully choreographed, with the dancers co-ordinating between each other. At one point one of them was walking very slowly and went straight past the microphone and members of the audience ended up blowing him back towards the microphone. There were many funny moments, although you were not sure if you should laugh at professional dancers, but the BSL interpreter was laughing with us so we relaxed into it. There were a few moments of extreme discomfort – one song seemed to go on forever, with the dancers frozen and we wondered if we were supposed to just leave and it was over, but no it moved on, eventually!
*
*
It included well known songs such as Fleetwood Mac’s Everywhere and Simon and Garfunkel’s Sound of Silence. At one point a screen was brought out and the lyrics were projected onto the screen, the dancers sat in the audience, and we got to join in with the singing. This was far enough through the evening that the studio had become a safe place where we felt comfortable to get involved, after all, we had literally blown a man back onto the dance space by then!
*
Quite co-incidently I had chosen a friend with partial hearing to go with me. In the car on the way there she was telling me she has been taking lessons in BSL and had noticed the show included it, so she was intrigued to see how much she understood. The interpreter was very much part of the show and I found myself watching her as well, and understanding some of the signs, like the “car” that Tracy Chapman, and the dancers, sang about. It really was an integral and beautiful part of the show – although I think we were all glad she only had one brief turn at the microphone! My friend really appreciated it being a valued part of the performance.
*
*
A very enjoyable evening, with a rollercoaster of emotions included along the way. I totally forgot the outside world transfixed by the dancing, the lyrics, the coloured lights reflecting on the shimmery curtain, and the general feeling of an intimate shared experience between the dancers and audience.
Further information:
http://www.lewysholt.com/empty-orchestra-autumn-tour-2023
*
Maria Robertson is the Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.
*
Subscribing to the 5D Pop Culture Website
If you would like to subscribe (for free) to the 5D Pop Culture Website and keep up to date with our content then just go to the bottom of this page, submit your email & click subscribe!
5D Reviews
If you are a content creator and interested in having your work reviewed here on the 5D Pop Culture Website then contact us at 5DPopCulture@gmail.com
Ko-fee
If you would like to donate to help this website, you can support us here: https://ko-fi.com/5dpopculturewebsite
*
*