Hi-Kick @ Assembly Hall

Artistry 0 - 0 Excitement

Review by Laurin Campbell | 20 Aug 2012

He shoots, he... misses quite spectacularly. Hi-Kick, this year’s offering from Korean troupe Seol and Company, mashes together the strangely complementary disciplines of dance and football in ways that fail to excite. With only a loose subplot to hold it together, the hour-long performance proves to be highly repetitive.

The recurring movement motif and persistent uttering of the ‘I love football’ mantra expose the show's lack of innovation. The basic premise of turning football into physical theatre is laboured through multiple skits: desperate attempts are made to draw the crowd in by passing oversized balls back and forth between the auditorium and the stage, but this too becomes drawn out and dull.

Tedium aside, the final ‘match’ between the two teams, who have been rivals throughout, contains some well-choreographed ball work and makes good use of the stage to represent different areas of a vast pitch. At other points, intricate footwork and acrobatic skill are combined to best showcase the performers’ talents, yet too many missed passes and botched tricks negate the value of any impressive moments.

While Hi-Kick may be based on a good concept, its implementation and lack of variation renders it disappointing. The result of picking this show: a goalless draw.   

 

Assembly Hall 2 -27 Aug http://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/dance-and-physical-theatre/hi-kick