ED2012 2/5 Reviews ED2012 Theatre Reviews

Icarus: A Story Of Flight (Backhand Theatre with South Hill Park Arts Centre and C Theatre)

By Alexandra Payne | Published on Sunday 5 August 2012

“Men are meant for the earth, not the sky” muses one of the characters in this exploration of freedom, flying and falling. Icarus lands in a ‘Tempest’-like foreign land, meeting a Caliban equivalent in simple savage Guy. The fusion of myth and mundane mortality in this play is mirrored by its combination of soaring aerial acrobatic sequences with a confused script and in some places clunky acting. The circus-esque physical routines shine, particularly in a well-choreographed opening sequence, but ultimately these interludes cannot prevent the production from falling flat. A lack of fluidity is evident in both the grounded and aerial aspects of the production, which, unfortunately, clever staging and high production values do not redeem.

C eca, 1-27 Aug (not 13), 5.30pm.
tw rating 2/5 | [Alexandra Payne]