Jump! by Crying in Public Places
Beckett Theatre, Malthouse, until October 12, 1996
Reviewed by Kate Herbert around Oct
5, 1996
When my mouth falls open I know I've
seen a good show and I gaped all through Jump! Again! Crying in Public Places grab you by the
heart, lungs and soul from the top and don't let go.
This is a
reprise of 1995's successful show but nothing is lost of the bright, joyful,
fulsome core of the original season. There are a few new songs but the four
(Anni Davey, Maud Davey, Karen Hadfield, Jane Bayly) still work with the
conversational-naturalistic, a' cappella singing, quirky movement and a
consistently wry view of the world, themselves and their foibles.
The
personal snatches are fascinating and as their re-incorporation is assiduously
handled to tantalise us with snippets of an unfolding story. "What is the
worst thing that could happen?" gives us a sniff of Anni's danger to come.
"I'm pregnant," develops into grabs of Jane's painful birthing.
"Where the fuck is my future?" signposts Maud's chequered life as she
keeps leaving behind the girl that she was and we root for Karen to overcome
her "Don't rock the boat" pattern.
Jumping is
represented literally but so is falling down, tripping up, on life's little problems
or, sometimes, its big doozies. We take chances or avoid risks. We leap into
the unknown, dive into new experiences or, perhaps, turn aside just at the
crucial moment. We fall in love and can never get back to where we jumped. Its
all a game of dice and if you never jump you'll never know what might have been
in store for you: the good, bad or ugly.
The joy and
near ecstasy of this group as it croons and chants, whimpers, howls and grooves
its original songs is infectious. I grinned and gaped, basking in their warm
glow, wanting to rush up and hug them. Again. I fell in love with them all.
Again. I can't wait for the next show so
I can drop my jaw, let go and love them all over again.
KATE
HERBERT
No comments:
Post a Comment