The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk at Bristol Old Vic review
Posted on: 2016-06-05
Our rating:
Vibrant, exciting, innovative and beautifully choreographed this is a mesmerising piece of theatre. A joyful production offset with just the right note of poignancy, Kneehigh?s latest masterpiece is well worth seeing.
The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk is currently dazzling crowds at Bristol Old Vic. Painting a vivid tale of love and perseverance through adversity and conflict it is a visually delightful production and is showing at the theatre until 11th June.
For decades the flying lovers, the oil and canvas versions of avant garde artist Marc Chagall and his talented writer wife and muse Bella Rosenfeld have been immortalised in a series of painting commonly held to characterise pure romance. Now they have been gloriously brought to life in this colourful collaboration between the Old Vic and Kneehigh. Marking Emma Rice’s final production for the Cornish company, this is a typically quirky and alternative production from a group widely recognised for their delightfully novel take on things.
The play tells the story of Marc and Bella’s life together, as they move through many horrors and conflicts, both personally and on a global scale. The story starts in 1910 when Marc who is an impoverished Jewish artist derided for his race and low social standing first sets eyes on brilliant academic Bella, who is to become his strongest supporter and all-consuming love. The tale follows the pair as they negotiate wars, revolutions, celebrity, and almost unbearable lows before finally finding themselves displaced, in exile in the USA away from their home country and their beloved city of Vitebsk.
.jpg "The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk - photo by Steve Tanner")
Photo credit - Steve Tanner
Taking on the roles of these partners both on and off canvas, Marc Antolin and Audrey Brisson look and sound the part. They are at their very best in the tender, intimate moments as they explore the intricacies of such an intense relationship, and demonstrate an almost palpable chemistry. Particularly poignant are the heart breaking scenes of the Chagall battling depression and later in the play when Bella is taken ill and Chagall faces the loss of his muse and with it his ability to create.
Yet even the lighter moments where you find yourself laughing out loud (and there are many) are a triumph. The pair show boundless energy as they throw themselves into these intensely physical parts, moving with fluidity as they dart cross Sophia Clist’s set made up of slopes, ropes and beams. Set off kilter it is an effective way to convey just how these characters really could be flying through life and love.
Antolin and Brisson are joined on stage by James Gow and Ian Ross, who provide additional characters but most importantly use their musical genius to create a soundscape which perfectly shows the changes in the Chagalls’ world, yet never loses the notes of traditional Eastern European Jewish music.
Vibrant, exciting, innovative and beautifully choreographed this is a mesmerising piece of theatre. A joyful production offset with just the right note of poignancy, Kneehigh’s latest masterpiece is well worth seeing.
5/5
Reviewed by Sarah-Jane Howard on behalf of The Bristol website.
The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk runs until Saturday 11 June 2016 at Bristol Old Vic. Tickets are available online here ranging from £7.50 to £30.
Photo credit - Steve Tanner
Article by:
Sarah-Jane is an aficionado of film, theatre, culture and the arts. A voracious reader and avid crafter, she can be found volunteering her face painting talents at Bristol Zoo when she's not cementing her reputation as Coalpit Heath’s cake maker extraordinaire. Known to have an opinion on everything she’s never happier than when sharing these with the good folk of Bristol!
