News from London
by John Percival
copyright ©2006 by John Percival
Handsomely and extensively refurbished, the Roundhouse in north London has reopened with a short run (21-24 September) of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company in the British premiere of “Ocean”. The premises (originally — long ago — a railway engine shed) proved ideal for the concept of the choreographer and his late partner John Cage for music and dance fully in the round. The great circle of the stage sits centrally with us, the audience, on slopes around it and the musicians above and behind. And thanks to staff and students of the Guildhall School of Music, the composer Andrew Culver has been able for the first time to enlarge his music from 112 to the originally desired 150 players, providing seven layers each of nineteen pieces, played without conductor. Together with David Tudor’s electronic music, we hear a steady activity of sound. Those of us familiar with Cunningham’s choreography recognised many familiar elements in the runs and leaps, pauses and groups, arm extensions and repeated changes of placing and direction.
The only décor, reflecting the Cage-Cunningham exactness about time, was a circuit of digital clocks that mark the show’s ninety-minute length.
Thanks to these, I can say that it was after 37 minutes that the first spectators began to sneak away, and others copied them all through. Perhaps they found too little variety; I would certainly have appreciated a little of the humour found in Cunningham’s equally long “Events”. And we have seen stronger dancing before now from these performers — fourteen of them in all.
The production opened this year’s Dance Umbrella Festival, which will bring twenty further productions to seven more London venues over the next six weeks. Some look more exciting than others; I’ll let you know.
I had hoped to report this week on a programme at Sadler’s Wells by Sylvie Guillem and Akram Khan, but an unexpected commitment prevented me from attending when planned, and the popularity of these performers meant that absolutely no alternative tickets were available.
Printed comments have varied but even the favourable ones suggested reservations, especially about the amount of chatter, and a reliable friend who admires both dancers rang straight afterwards to say “You didn’t miss anything”.
Photo of Merce Cunningham Company, 'Ocean', by Tony Dougherty.
Volume 4, No. 34
September 25, 2006
copyright ©2006 John Percival
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