Written by: Ari Hershberg

This past Tuesday was opening night for Orpheus and Eurydice by Compagnie Marie Chouinard at the Theatre Junction GRAND.  Orpheus and Eurydice takes both the performers and the audience on a wild journey of the senses.  From the opening moment to the final piece, there is something going on stage that is felt and experienced, a visceral experience for both the performers and the audience.  The communication progressed into a dialogue, each reaction by the audience created a stronger connection that built into the crescendo of the final scene.

There was a feeling in the room like a spell was cast on the audience.  When I occasionally took my attention off the performers and onto the audience, I saw a collective group mesmerized, and glued to their chairs.  There was no movement.  It was as if each and everyone’s senses were being so fully absorbed that their bodies were rendered motionless.

Earlier on Tuesday, September 22, 2009, I had a chance to speak with three of the lead dancers Lucie Mongrain, Dorotea Saykaly and James Viveiros, and they shared some of their thoughts on Chouinard’s work. There is a deep exploration through Chouinard’s work. A lot of possibilities, layers and pockets that allows you to go deeper and deeper, accessing subconscious states. Chouinard’s inspiration changes every time, continually blossoming throughout the whole creation of the piece, its completion and even after.  If she were a painter she would sneak into a gallery that held one of her finished paintings every night adding another brush stroke, continually adding a new element.   Past works, even pieces that are 10 years old are still being modified, as no piece is ever fully finished.

Chouinard is focused on the dancer’s body, and is in tune with movements that are pleasurable to the senses and body that the dancers can have fun with.  This creates a comfort and openness, and allows for change and new creation each performance.  She has really found a way to find joy and out of her work, an amazing edge without being a tortured artist.  All involved in the creation sees it as a process.  Dancers have a great trust and love for her connection with the dance, dancers and the audience. 

I personally love when I see something that makes me want to connect with others and discuss what I have witnessed because there is so much to share, whether it is joy, sadness, anger or any other emotion.  After the show a packed room awaited full of people sharing their thoughts and insights.   The woman I shared the evening with was full of observations and questions, and so was everyone else who visited our table.  The place was buzzing with excitement.  If you are looking for a feast of the senses that entices and offers a new way of experiencing and seeing the world this is for you.  Calgary is blessed that Marie Chouinard’s work continually shows at this beautiful venue.  Performances like this will be talked about for a long time.