The Czech company Cirk La Putyka breathed new life into the festival on Wednesday evening with its new creation, Runners. A striking acrobatic and musical piece on the theme of passing time, and our mad race to try (in vain) to catch up with it.
From the first seconds, they start running. First around a long red canvas tent, then on a huge conveyor belt, the central scenographic element of Runners.
On this carpet, everything will be played. A great metaphor for our daily race, the four performers of Runners will stop in turn to share small slices of life and other reflections on time with the public.
From the first hill descended by bicycle to the dream of being thrown by a human cannon, passing through the fantasy of stopping time, there is in these artists a great intensity, a deep desire to succeed, and perhaps also a penchant for speed…that exhilarating sensation that makes “time stand still”.
These asides create real moments of intimacy with the circus artists – most of the time anonymous – whom we have the impression of knowing a little at the end of the performance. A process that the 7 Doigts have explored in several pieces, including Traces.
In effect. Facing the famous mammoth, we have three options: prostrate, fight or run. I would choose racing too… Wouldn’t it be Louis-José Houde, who recalled in his last show the philosophy of the late Rush drummer – Neil Peart – to always “stay in motion” to overcome the trials of life?
Yes, the material of this seemingly innocuous show is rich in reflections of all kinds. Questioning for a few seconds – during our daily mad dash – our deep motivations in life is a happy time out.
The piece is beautifully paced by two musicians who share the stage with the artists – a keyboardist and guitarist, and a violinist, who sings sublimely at the end. In fact, the music envelops the whole piece. Special mention to the artist Sabina Bočková, who performs a wild acrobatic dance on the treadmill while singing, supported by the voice of the keyboardist/guitarist.
Another mention to Ethan Law, an American artist – graduated from the National Circus School of Montreal in 2010 – who now lives in Prague, and who does a fabulous Cyr wheel act, which he continues on the treadmill.
It’s true, there is a repetitive side to this carousel – during which the artists multiply the choreographies on the treadmill – which turns sometimes in slow motion, sometimes in accelerated. But there is enough material during the hour and a quarter of this performance to keep us awake and even in a state of alert.
After the thrilling final led by Viktor Černický, we come out of Runners a bit out of breath (for them), with the desire to bite into life with full teeth. But for the right reasons. Run to see this show (scuse her).