Image by Fringe Festival Perth
Reviewed by Manuel Cortes
Aire Flamenco brings the atmosphere of Andalusia to Perth Fringe Festival at Lyric’s Underground!
A captivating introduction opened the show, with guitarist Justin Kutylowski holding a percussive vamp as the other performers approached the stage from the seating area. Following this opening number, the group seemed to experience a short lull for a few tunes and cohesion was somewhat lost. This was further exacerbated by dancer Maree Laffan’s performance of a solo dance with orchestral backing. The omission of the band served only to slow the momentum of the performance as a whole, and perhaps audio track accompaniments are best left for the examination room rather than the stage.
Opening tunes aside, the band convincingly regained composure (or perhaps warmed up!) and left audiences immensely satisfied with a sublime rondeña. From this point, the musicians presented a vibrant array of flamenco palos. So dramatic was this curious improvement that the band which impeccably executed the encore bulerías hardly resembled that which opened the show. Laffan and fellow dancer Miranda Martinez provided energetic performances throughout.
The percussion duet Starcus (an original) was a highlight, featuring leader Steve Richter and percussionist Marcus Perrozzi. Superbly performed and clearly well-rehearsed, the passion of both performers for this music was put on spectacular display. Steve Richter’s informative explanations between tunes were a welcome addition, providing context, and humour.
Lyric’s Underground is a phenomenal venue in its own right, with an intimate atmosphere and excellent sound management that would complement any performance. As such, there are arguably no places more suitable to host Aire Flamenco’s show in Perth. Audiences are transported to an Andalusian tablao not only by the music and dance, but also by the very setting itself.
The music, dance, and atmosphere combined to create a very enjoyable night, and an appropriate introduction for a newcomer to flamenco music. Aire Flamenco’s Fringe season is unfortunately over; however, the group will be performing at Government House on the 19th and 20th of March.