Eye-opening, awe-inspiring, bewildering, clever and comical — 'Shadowland' is a rollicking ride through a shadow-filled world on stage.
Brought to you by Pilobolus, a performance company that fuses low-tech with ingenious body work, the show takes you to places in your imagination that you didn't know existed. It is structured around the story of a girl who dreams her way through a night of strange and other-world adventures and like a mash-up between 'Alice In Wonderland' with 'Cirque Du Soleil' on a much smaller and less elaborate scale, the show nonetheless packs the same kind of emotional and visual punch.
Using ingenious placing of torsos and limbs, outlined against various large screens, the dancers create the story with a combination of body work and props, backed by an eclectic and unusual music score. The time flew past, the plot flipping quickly, scenes changing constantly to create a energetic flow. Ending with two encores, a pair of clever choreographed postcards from New York and one about Australia are entertaining and ingenious short vignettes. Incorporating iconic landmarks and cliches about each place, the joy and passion from the performers was palpable and an excellent way to end the show.
'Shadowland' played at the Playhouse, QPAC from June 10-15.
