Review: Complexity of Belonging is pure genius

Complexity of Belonging, now showing at the Melbourne Festival, is a show you could see over and over again, and still discover something new each time.

By AMY RUCK

The combined talents of German writer and director Falk Richter and Dutch choreographer and Chunky Move artistic director Anouk Van Dijk is pure genius.

The two have come together with Melbourne Theatre Company and the Melbourne Festival to create a work of drama and dance that perfectly blend together to make Complexity of Belonging a truly cohesive performance.

Set against a backdrop of the Australian Outback, Complexity of Belonging is the exploration of being one, of being part of a set – part of society.

Through monologues, conversation and dance, the show explores themes of identity, gender, sexuality, nationality, fear of invasion, the corporate machine, art, love and human connection.

It compares the sense of who we should be, as opposed to who we are. It questions our expectations and our assumptions about ourselves and society, making us question whether they are realistic or not.

It touches on an array of topics, some quite controversial. Although it forces you to think, it’s not depressing – confusing maybe, but Richter expertly diffuses nearly every theme with humour.

Partly inspired by the performers themselves, their stories and emotions are fictionalised and morphed into complex characters. At times the performance plays out like a therapy session – one of the characters, Karen, is a therapist; another character, Eloise, is interviewing people as part of her research for an art installation piece.

Right from the beginning there is an assault on the senses that is at times too much to take in. This makes it hard to focus on the meaning behind the words and movements.

Besides this, the nine performers are mesmerising, their timing is impeccable and their strength undeniable, as they balance and climb on chairs and tables, bodies intertwined and moving as one.

Dancer and actress Lauren Langlois, with the aid of co-performers Alya Manzart and Stephen Phillips, creates the standout moment of the show. Langlois wants to find her perfect man, and while being flung around, she expertly manages to list 179 characteristics her perfect man must have – without missing a beat. This was the only moment the audience clapped during the performance.

Complexity of Belonging is on during the Melbourne Festival at the Southbank Theatre (The Sumner) until October 25.