Yungblud review and Duck Pond review

And while the quality of his material hasn’t yet consistently matched his talents as an artist, Yungblud is one of the biggest young rock stars around right now.

CIRCUS
Duck Pond
Sydney Opera House, Concert Hall, 9 January
until January 12
Reviewed by CHANTAL NGUYEN
★★★★

Circus returns to town with Circa Duck Pond: a satirical mix The Ugly Duckling and ballet Swan Lake. Unlike Circa’s sociopolitical works or prestigious classical art collaborations, Duck Pond It is a comfortable trip for the whole family. Not a ballet flat in sight: just slippery sparkly one-pieces, wings for Cupid, killer red stilettos for Black Swan, and lots of yellow overalls and flippers for the obligatory duck joke (Libby McDonnell’s costumes).

Based on Jethro Woodward’s techno revival of Tchaikovsky’s iconic ballet music, the story flies by with a series of satisfying acrobatics. There are aerial silks, trapeze swings, somersaults, high balances, and (my personal favorite) aerial pole. Who needs the famous “thirty-two fouetté” variation of the Black Swan that can spin in the air and upside down?

The audience gasps as the performers throw and lock their bodies into human towers, slings and catapults. But the best moments always have a more artistic aesthetic; If you take a split-second photo, the resulting image captures clear ballistic lines, pointier feet, and the artists in formation like ancient Greek statues.

Swan Lake the story matches surprisingly well The Ugly Duckling. After all, both tales feature a waterfowl hero fighting bad guys and discovering his true self. Duck Pond‘s main character is also one of the underdogs (pun intended for my guests groaning “Underduck?”), which pushed Cinderella to carry feather pillows and vacuum up feathers.

There’s some social class commentary when the Prince raises an eyebrow at her lowly housekeeper status and modest Elizabethan neck ruffle and turns his attention to the more glamorous Black Swan, who flaunts the kind of glittering unitary outfit Taylor Swift might wear.

The acrobatics characteristic of Circa and its groundbreaking director, Yaron Lifschitz, focus on narrative rather than spectacle, lyricism rather than exhibitionism. The costumes and set keep it stylish with dramatic monochrome and mood colours. There’s even a billowing fabric lake finale that Australian Ballet fans will recognize from Graeme Murphy’s hit production.

However Duck Pond is still notable for its endearing characters and Aussie sense of larrikinism. This is a tribute to artists; Even Cirque du Soleil doesn’t have character arcs that you can get emotionally invested in.

And when the main story ends, the fourth wall breaks with a joyful coda and the performers bare their hearts out for the grateful, laughing audience.

Find out the next TV series, streaming series and movies to add to your must-watch list. Get the Watch List delivered every Thursday.