Photo: Henrik Ohsten
The music and set design are absurdly good
Nina Kareis’ father was sometimes a fantastic character who shouted “shit and piss” in church, and at other times he was sectioned and given electroshock treatment. He loved his green Saab 96 (two of them), and he bought himself a bow and arrow. I tell you, the audience was scared when he aimed the bow at us and fumbled with the arrow. Our row in the auditorium at Teatret Svalegangen was right in the line of fire – genuinely frightening.
Much of Nina’s childhood was shaped by this whimsical father with a huge imagination. He believed you could buy a bottle-green fibreglass boat and sail around Denmark with your daughter, so that’s exactly what he did.
A wonderfully mad guy, that father of hers.
You will love the set design – go and see the show – it forms part of the portrait of the girl’s father, the girl who is now an adult director. A simple wooden crate stands on stage, and this crate is deconstructed as the father’s manic-depressive story is painted before us. Graphically beautiful and it adds real context to the piece.
You will also love the music. It is Pete Livingstone who creates the moods and melodies. Sad, happy, Bob Dylan-esque, classical – spiced with well-chosen suspense effects. Extremely impressive work by Livingstone; he can play music on all instruments – violin, piano, guitar, synth – a great musician, in my opinion. His work perfectly suits the piece and frames the portrait of the mad father.
The acting is a monologue in the form of a voice-over, where the performers provide bodies and movements to what is being told. Original and absurdly effective. The actors wear masks created by Julie Forchhammer. There are bears, doves, crocodiles, herrings and so on. Absurd and very well executed.
My Father Can Fly based on an idea by Nina Kareis
Cast Pete Livingstone, Amia Miang, Bo Carlsson, Serafin Ziquer Xavier
Direction Nina Kareis
Set design Johan Kølkjær, Olivia Sahl
Lighting design Martin Danielsen
Sound design Jacobe Suissa
Music Pete Livingstone
Masks Julie Forchhammer
Choreographic consultant Adelaide Bentzon
Costumes Clara Bisgaard
Builder Sven Buse
Producer Anny Neel Dirchsen
Production manager Luna Brøndal
Produced by Livingstones Kabinet.
Ambiorn Happy, Kulturnyt.net
★★★★★★
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