Lasting just shy of 60 minutes, 'Death On The Mersey' had more shootings than you could shake a stick at, [I had no idea the Mersey was such a perilous waterway!] - and yet it still manages to be beautiful, artistic, and aesthetically pleasing. Performed by the combined forces of both first and second year students on the Dance And Performance degree course at Arden Theatre School at their home theatre, The Waterside on Chorlton Street, this was a most enjoyable and proficient show.
Sadly there were no physical programmes for this production, and since I don't own a mobile phone, QR codes are of absolutely no use to me. I don't agree with them in any case, since it encourages people to use their mobile phones during the show to access the programme, when they should be switched off and in your pocket! However, I should like to congratulate and credit the director / choreographer of this piece, whomsoever they were, as it was certainly one of the most professionally produced shows I've ever seen the school perform.
We entered the auditorium to a blue haze, and were greeted with the strains of "Moon River"; on stage, and through the haze, we could see what looked like a seaside promenade out of a 1940's film set. The 1940's feel morphed into the 1920s when the 40+ dancers filled the stage, but the time period was fluid, since much of the music, and indeed choreography which followed came from our contemporary time. This didn't matter, in fact the show ably showcased many of the styles of dance taught at the school, whilst giving a thread of a storyline, which could be simplified as 'a jealous love triangle with a few interruptions'. Costuming was consistent (mostly) with a 1920's idea, but the colour and co-ordination of costume was excellent.
The dancing throughout was incredible. I loved the use of space, the pictures, the groupings, the acrobatics, the lifts, the leaps, etc... sometimes dark and foreboding, sometimes jazzy and glitzy, always on point! I enjoyed the true ensemble feel of the whole, and the way (almost Brechtian) other dancers stood or sat on the periphery as silent observers to the dance narrative happening in the centre of the stage. The central section of mimed acting was certainly the weakest part of the show, being the least defined, and perhaps needed a little more prep / thought behind this, but considering the very short rehearsal time these students have had, I see no need to be too critical of this, and the contemporary piece of dance which immediately followed this mime section was absolutely superb, with high energy leaps, tumbles and pirouettes, which, after yet another gun shot, turned into another great piece of choreography with a second group of dancers.
There are two points of real criticism however. First is that the volume of the music throughout was set at ear-piercing levels. I have never felt compelled to wear earplugs at the Waterside before, and yet I had to for this show and even then, it was still very loud. And my second point is the gun used was obviously a plastic toy gun. Dropping it on the floor makes the wrong sound (!), and perhaps the orange-coloured tip of the toy could have been taped over with black?
However, despite my misgivings, I was very impressed with the standard of this show from all involved. If these are first and second years, then I am looking forward to their next shows and having the privilege of watching them grow during their time at Arden.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 4.5.22
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