Created and Directed by Emma Sandall
Original music composed by Elena Kats- Chernin
As the presence of a woman, alone in the space, elastic and coming to terms. By the flip of a coin all is justified it seems. Such is the beginning of a gathering of moments, truths and with this toss of a coin a pathfinding. Emma is an extraordinary performer. An award winning dancer she has crafted a career in ballet. Her movement, control and physical storytelling are an incredible weaving of this very original and somewhat personal narrative.
We were thus enveloped in this one woman story. Originating from a novel, “Motherhood” by Sheila Heti. Yet this beautifully and sensitively devised and realised treatment of what might be called Emma’s origin story as she speaks to the Mothers that made her real. A powerful list of her female forebears since she knows the names of so many. It is at once deeply honest this story; then reminds us all of our own testing. Our own mothers and motherhood are also at the core. I was moved by this creative and original multi media wrapped cabaret. Songs en pointe as was the nuanced dance lifted by laughter in the honest tell-all tale.
Emma holds the room in her hands, beneath some gentle and subtle imagery. Within the filmography she weaves further commentary. Emma is in every moment encouraged by the accompanying pianist Yanghee who might also echo the mother. Perfect addition were the verbatim shares of others regarding being mothers as much as Emma is not. The dialogue is with those ‘others’ of her life but it is all our lives.
I was heartened by the final sequences of mother-daughter confirmations. This is one of the most deeply felt pieces of theatre I have witnessed and I felt her embrace the trust she has in this ultimately sharing experience. Woven so well we never lose the thread. In the final moments powerful and uplifting. This is a treasure.
Performer Emma Sandall
Pianist Yanghee Kim
Choreography Emma sandall
Projection design Emma Sandall
An Ambivalent Woman of 37
Friday 1 and Saturday 2 November 7pm
Playing Time 90 mins (no interval)
The Drill Hall, 1C New Beach Rd, Darling Point
Tickets: $44 | Bookings: https://events.humanitix.com/an-ambivalent-woman-of-37
An Ambivalent Woman of 37 – photography by Taylor Phoenix and Stephen Reinhardt
