Ten bodies writhe, link and push onstage. They are dressed in the same clothes. Only slightly different. They operate as a team – a pack, even – each movement, improbable balance and outlandish toss coordinated and supported. And yet they shove and snarl, form shifting alliances. The opening scene quickly sets moods of struggle, domination, desire, violence, care, comfort, fear. Sequences set out a society where strong women bear the weight of men just as much as they are borne. Through movement, tumbling, acrobatic feats and extraordinary balances – not to mention pulsing beats which match, support but never overpower the choreography – Circa show yet again that they can deliver spectacular circus with real emotional heft.
A note on the level of spectacle here. A routine on aerial straps receives only muted applause as each knife-edge balance is held. There’s a reason: it’s so ridiculously tense. The point of release comes at the end. The applause is effusive.
There’s a niggle that starts to take shape in the hours that follow Wolf, once the oohs and aahs have subsided. It’s this: despite the strong aesthetic and bold emotional brush strokes, it’s just not clear that Wolf goes anywhere. Over the course of a gorgeous hour, there’s no development, no transformation, no distance travelled. But that’s not to say there’s no variety – there’s changes in intensity, pace, aggression. And never, never is a move, balance or shape repeated. For an hour, this is mesmerising – exceptional creativity performed with unmatched skill.
Circa: Wolf, Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows, until 23 Aug (not 12, 19), 6.20pm