Fringe Show Reviews

Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

The Ballad of Herbie Cox

Written by: Victoria Chiu & Roland Cox

Presented by: Sum of Its Parts, Melbourne, Australia

Venue 1: John Hirsch Theatre

Our Rating: Your Average Rating:

07/22/2012 3:44 PM | Comments: 0

This odd, uneven dance-theatre production by a likable married duo from Australia comes across like a homemade variety show in their living room. That makes the cavernous RMTC mainstage an unfortunate venue for it.

Victoria Chiu is a skilled contemporary dancer. Husband Roland Cox is a decent dancer and an excellent pianist. Their concept is to share slices from the racially mixed lives of their family members and perform dances inspired by them. But biographical facts are not art, and most of the verbal passages don’t bring these individuals to life.

After a pathetic opening using puppets, there are some strong, affecting pieces (notably one about a homeless drug addict) and charming light-hearted numbers that are almost vaudevillian. These two obviously care deeply about their family trees, but the whole thing needed theatrical pruning and fertilizing to be satisfying for the audience.

— Alison Mayes

From the Fringe program:

Nothing can prepare you for the future.

Professional dancers Victoria Chiu and Roland Cox, who have worked extensively across Europe and Australia, bring a true story of heart, hardship, death and new life. A mixture of dance, music and storytelling.

Dark family secrets unravel in this bizarre and brave new work.

Recommended For: General Audience

Length: 60 min

Tickets: $10

Discount Tickets: $9 for Students, Seniors, Kids (12 & under), Fringe performers

History

Updated on Sunday, July 22, 2012 at 3:44 PM CDT:
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