The Place London
The Place LondonExtra large - because more is better and size does matter. If swinging shopping trollies around accompanied by the theme from Star Trek is your idea of fun, this is the show for you. If not, what's wrong with you?
THE PLACE THEATRE LONDON (FEB 2002)
REVIEW BY BEN FELSENBURG
'More is better and size does matter.' The slogan of Belgium's XL Production told it like it was: XL was a kandy-coloured dance hellzapoppin that just didn't stop. This feast of coked-up consumer comedy moments even had its own McDonalds style menu. The Double Mac Frankfurt, Pina Mac Nuggets and Platel Pie were fleshed out by the quintet in a review of contemporary dance reduced to cruelly precise video-blips. There followed a thinly-threaded series of sketches thematically located somewhere between pop culture and the 21st century choreographer's predicament, but really this wasn't about concept but comedy. Particular highlights: shopping trolleys à la Busy Berkley to the Star Trek tune, the Instant Dancer 2000 – 'trained in five techniques and equipped with a big penis' – and a delightfully deadpan rendition of the Fame theme song. There were moments when the consumer culture deconstruction felt tired and over-familiar, but the palpable hits of the scatter-gun attack far outweighed the Belgian waffle in between.
REVIEW BY LYDIA WHARF
Serving up a veritable feast of exemplary post-modernism in the guise of an alternative fast food menu, Villanella presented XL – a hilariously unequivocal take on popular culture. Standing to attention through the cloying strains of Richard Clayderman, then performing a bizarre ballet that featured a corps of shopping trolleys, the cast's comedy timing here was second to none. Their strange scenarios reflected the juxtaposition of American values upon distinctly European philosophies: 'Just do it!' they yelled, sporting Nike swooshes on white lab coats, before attempting to sell off the 'Instantdancer' – 'for all your choreographic needs'. The company concluded with a spoonful of syrupy irony by thanking a multitude of worldwide sponsors. Clever stuff.
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