The story of Shakespeare’s The Tempest was retold last night to a captivated audience attending the season premiere of the NAC Dance season, launched with a Canadian premiere of Crystal Pite-Kidd Pivot’s The Tempest Replica. It is hard to believe that with only seven cast members and a bare minimalist set comprised of a total prop collection of a stone, a sword, and paper boats, the audience is carried through an emotional drama of love, deceit, revenge, greed, remorse and forgiveness. The Tempest Replica is a choreography that reminds me of a complex tapestry, strung together by fluid isolations and incredible partnering that left me wondering how on earth Crystal Pite conceived and kept track of all the poses and half-moves not made for human, everyday functionality. Her attention to detail is admirable, as I watched her put the finishing touches before the show in the rehearsal hall, still refining the choreography even after successfully starting their tour a few weeks ago in the US.
The Tempest Replica is on for a second night at the NAC on Friday, September 28 2012 at 7:30pm in the Theatre.
