Overall rating: ★★★★★Date attended: 21/02/2019
It was a show that was quite high on my list of must-see Adelaide Fringe shows this year and I'm so happy to report that it lived up to its hype and its name!
FINALE is a circus troupe hailing from Germany, where eight friends come together to create a visually striking demonstration of agility, strength, flexible human movement, and exuberant physical theatre at its best. A dynamic cast of individuals and friends, who possess a range of talents - from aerials to juggling to gymnastics to acrobatics to killer vocals to contortion to balancing acts to spinning pole work to a Cyr wheel - this show has it all and more. Resonating with a high level of energy and a state of playful mischief that encapsulates the cast and the audience collaboratively into the show, you simply couldn't have asked for a better team of people to execute a well-choreographed spectacle of circusy delight.
A thoroughly enjoyable aspect of the show was the transparent camaraderie between the performers - the friendship between the crew appears to be genuine on-stage as it felt off-stage, with the hilarity and humor that ensues, through the charisma offered by each cast member in the show. The set up of the show has been constructed in a manner where every cast member is always performing at once - be it at the centre of the stage or in the background. There may be props at one point, but they'll quickly get replaced by another entire set of props, which shows that not everything that is in front of you is absolute and that this group has a ton of accessories and apparatus to step it up a notch, one finale after the next. This applied a new level of magic, awe, and excellence, as the audience was constantly left mesmerized by every single individual's ability to showcase something unique, extravagant, and fun.
Through the smoke effects, the bright lights, and the rain of confetti, audiences feel a connection to the crew on stage, as they bring the WOW factor and blow our minds with their gravity-defying stunts (sitting on a chair that is placed on a pile of books, anyone?), juggling acts that perfectly sync up to the beats of a drum, a kickass soundtrack to pump the audience into an enthusiastic and exhilarating mood to party, balancing on a plank of wood that the crew bought from good ol' Bunnings, shake their booty to a sensational voice, and dance to the electro punk / rock vibes that resonated throughout the tent. Who knew that the human body was so versatile and diverse in its ability to be as effortlessly flexible as each performer seemed to make it look!?
Delivering the encore of the show with a quintessentially Fringe-worthy party that brings together the art of acrobatics, aerials, and awe-inspiring carnival tricks that left the audience chanting for more,
FINALE lived up to its name by transforming The Peacock tent into a space where you never knew what to expect next, but would undoubtedly be left surprised by the talent that thrives within the ANALOG crew.
Every moment during
FINALE is filled with vibrant movements, loads of fast-paced entertainment that is coupled with an impeccable tumbling act that involves some of the audience members, who basically get a VIP experience and watch the beautiful chaos unfold up close. There were laughs, there were gasps, there was a standing ovation (and so well deserved).
FINALE is the kind of show that can appeal to anyone, who is up for something unique, different, and has a depth of character and a diverse range of skill hidden among the confetti.
FINALE by Analog will be performing at The Peacock in Gluttony, as part of Adelaide Fringe till March 17. Book your tix here.
Sourced from the Adelaide Fringe website
