Pinocchio: Jasmin Vardimon Company

Sadler’s Wells Theatre, 27 October 2017

This show is rivetingly original. Staged in the sort of dim light usually reserved for puppetry, it includes a silhouette sequence, work with trapeze, bungee and flying. A fascinating sequence involves six performers, hands linked, rolling in turn slowly through 360 degrees to represent a huge cog wheel. Then there are two people chatting animatedly in a restaurant – their faces painted on to feet with toes waggling expressively and hands (two other performers behind?) acting like mad. Moving lights work to terrific effect too and ultra violet technology may have been around for a long time but it still impresses – here three pairs of ultra-violet lit hands represent a huge talking face.

 Pinocchio by Jasmin Vardimon Company @ Stour Centre, Ashford Kent.

Pinocchio is, of course, a puppet and Jasmin Vardimon has returned to the unsentimental tenor of Carlo Collodi’s original 1883 book rather than allowing herself to be side tracked by any of the many interpretations since, including Disney. This Pinocchio, whose movements remain floppy and puppet-like throughout – as he is manipulated by almost everyone he meets – is discovering what it means to be human rather than turning into a real boy.  And Vardimon choreographs exquisitely. No one who sees this show is going to forget the monster tormenting Pinocchio formed from the linked undulating arms of a line of performers.

The music which accompanies all this is borrowed from many sources to suit the mood of each episode. We leap effortlessly from Beyonce to Shostakovich and from The De Leeuwin Dutch Street Organ to accordion music from the Faroe Islands among many other things. Steven Glasser’s recorded narration grates, however. The movement in this show tells the story expertly and needs no words but it’s a minor objection

Jasmin Vardimon must be one of Britain’s most talented choreographers and educators. Her company, based since 2012 at the Jasmin Vardimon Production Space at Ashford, Kent, is supported by Ashford Borough Council, Ashford Leisure Trust and Arts Council England. And Pinocchio is co-produced by Gulbenkian Theatre and Kent County Council along with Sadler’s Wells. It is most encouraging to see such a splendid dance company getting the support it so richly deserves. I was also delighted to see hundreds of enthusiastic dance students and young dancers in the audience at Sadler’s Wells.

Susan Elkin

 

 

St Nicolas Pevensey – new CD

In 2016 St. Nicolas church hosted a series of memorable concerts to raise funds for the restoration of the church. Work on this is currently under way and a celebration concert for the completion of the eleven year project will be held on April 21st next year, 2018. More information about this exciting and very special event will be circulated in the New Year, but make a note of this date!

In the meantime an 800th Anniversary Concert Highlights DVD is in preparation and will be available if demand justifies this.  The performances are introduced by the musicians who have authorised their contributions for inclusion on this exclusive and entertaining disc, and. They include:-

                              The Canterbury Cathedral Choristers
                                 Maria matrem – Michael McGlynn
                                 Silent Worship – G.F. Handel
                                 Tecum principium – Antonio Vivaldi
                                 Ave Maria – Giulio Caccini
                                 Fantasie – Camille Saint-Saëns, (Guy Steed, organ)

 

                             Catherine Rimer – ’cello
                              Suite No. 5 in C minor – JS Bach 
                              (movements on period instrument)
                                          Fugue
                                         Courante
                                         Sarabande
                                         Gigue
 
                             The King’s Singers
                                Trois chansons de Charles d’Orléans – Claude Debussy
                                I’ve got the world on a string – Harold Arlem
                                Alice in Wonderland – Spike Milligan
 
                              Harvey’s Brass
                                Slavonic Dance No. 8 – Antonin Dvo?ák
                                Soul Bossa – Quincy Jones
                                Keep young and beautiful – Al Dubin
                                Charleston – James P Johnson

 

                             Pasadena Roof Orchestra ‘Hot Five’
                                When you’re smiling – Louis Armstrong
                                Stardust – Hoagy Carmichael
                                Cake walking my baby back home – Sidney Bechet

 

If you have Christmas in mind then this disc could make a unique present for friends and family who really enjoy lovely music performed by gifted performers in the wonderful acoustics of St. Nicolas church. The monies raised from sales will contribute to the upkeep and maintenance of the restored building.

Orders are now being taken (up until 26th November) for this DVD which plays for over 1hr 15mins.

The disc will be issued on a first come first served basis. Please apply – in writing only – with full payment for as many as you require.  Availability however is subject to the number of discs ordered covering the costs of production and distribution. The minimum total number required making the disc profitable and worthwhile to the church is one hundred. Should orders fail to reach this number, payments will be returned, and the Celebration disc will not be produced.

Application Procedure

All applications with payments should be sent to

George Stephens,
10 Leasingham Gardens,             
Bexhill on Sea, TN39 4DZ,

Payment cheques should also be payable to me ‘George Stephens’. Discs cost £12 (including P&P) or £10 each if collected at St Nicolas church on Sundays once the ordered discs are available in December.

Please ensure you provide full address details whether applying for postal delivery or for personal collection.

Your order must be received by George Stephens by Sunday 26th November please.

Applicants will be told when the discs are available. I cannot enter into correspondence once applications have been made.

If you came to the concerts I really do hope you will re-live some varied and thrilling music from the 2016 Concert Season. If you didn’t or couldn’t come you’ll soon realise what and how much you missed!