FAIRYTALE ILLUSIONS UNDER WATER

Last weekend the Royal Opera, House of Musical Arts surpassed all expectations with its family-orientated “Underwater Bubbles” show that entertained attendees of all ages. It did exactly what it said on the tin: through innovative use of video projection and various forms of “contemporary soap bubble” techniques the audience was submerged underwater for a seamless seventy-five minutes, non-stop. There were fairytale illusions which had children marvelling in wonder and screaming in delight, while Sand Art, Contortion and Aerial Straps were appreciated by adults.
Mr. B introduced the storyline, discovering a fishbowl in his suspended briefcase which became a gateway to the colourful world of marine life and spherical objects. The role was taken by Latvian Mime, Pēteris Rimšs, a modern day masked Marcel Marceau. The narrative was enhanced by Silvester Silis’ creative projections of all things above and under the sea. At times his camera turned on the audience, with those sitting in the front row most recognisable!
Underlying the movement on stage was a pre-recorded backing track of pastiche compositions by Valdis Zilvers. It progressed from children’s musicals to the crescendo of Ravel’s compelling Bolero, Beethoven’s iconic 5th Symphony in a sea storm, Gypsy Jazz and Tango.
Curtains opened to reveal a female gymnast inside a giant bubble illuminated by lime green lasers, swirling and turning in a kaleidoscope of colour. An evocative Rachmaninov-like vocalise transported the audience into an ethereal sound-world illustrated with marine cartoons of octopuses, shells, fish and corals. Seven characters walked through the auditorium in an extravaganza of costumes, light and movement to circus music, eliciting yelps of glee from excited youngsters.
Italian Artistic Director and company founder (2011) Enrico Pezzoli and his partner Dace Pecolli appeared as magicians, making handkerchiefs change colour and flowers appear from nowhere as flotillas of bubbles flooded the floor. A sleazy Tango and suspended trapeze hoop announced the appearance of an impossibly lithe and flexible Polish Aerialist, Sara Kreis. Her highly skilled aerial gymnastics were beyond imagination as she turned and twisted, spinning upside-down to gasps of disbelief from amazed adults.
A parody of ‘Tale as old as Time’ backed Dace blowing bubbles into stylised tree props which transformed mysteriously into psychedelic lamps. They filled the stage with huge soap bubbles which became jellyfish lamps, carried by the cast fishing-style into the audience. Children tried to catch them, or were tickled by their tentacles. Later, massive sheets of gauze were passed over heads to create a simulated underwater experience.
A film of a diver meeting a shark was set to an ominous Spielberg ‘Jaws’ spoof while a cuddly life-sized shark walked on to meet two one-eyed puppets. A giant rainbow Slinky without a head, like vacuum cleaner hoses, danced to a funky Grieg, ‘Hall of the Mountain King’!
A highlight came in the amazing Sand Art performed by multi-talented co-founder, Dace Pecolli. She poured sand onto an illuminated table and began to finger-draw. Enlarged projections enabled everyone to watch, fascinated. The pictures appeared, grew, changed and re-emerged, ever more impressive and fantastic, to slow piano flourishes. A detailed seahorse, starfish and smiling octopus aroused the transfixed audience, followed by rousing applause.
Two aerial strap artists, Polish Kamil Kovalik and Latvian Jekaterina Leikuma dressed as zebras, performed their stunning aerial ballet. Turning upside-down with mid-air summersaults and ending in splits, sea anemones danced to a triumphant orchestral film-score. The climax was performed by 1.9 metre tall Guinness World record nominee for executing his extreme box act. To an atmospheric Hammond organ soundtrack, Contortionist Valery Komisarenko took up advanced yoga positions, his legs behind his head, turning himself into impossible positions, and folded himself into a small Perspex box; an incredible feat defying all logic of human capability.
The Finale routine filled the stage and auditorium with thousands of tiny bubbles to a spoof of Rossini’s ‘William Tell’ Overture. Beach balls thrown into the audience for children to volley brought the evening to a close, with the young audience reluctant to depart the magical atmosphere. Photos by Khalid al Busaidi