The Dali Hours: abstract, irrational, often beautiful

The performers in The Dali Hours are the Maple Salsa, from Alberta, who list two previous creations. Their program is full of words: "We reflect on time and childhood. Many are familiar with Salvador Dali as a painter, but few with his endeavours as a philosopher and intellectual.  We have based this piece in Dali's ideas of taking over the notion of time, bend it, expand it. We were brought back to the only stage of our lives when time was our best friend."   Their production is not: the only words are "over here" twice, some total distortion of simultaneous speakers, and at the end a brief taped obituary of Dali.

At the top we see a figure in boyish short trousers emerging from five women in long dresses of different colours, their heads entirely covered.   A big clock is then produceed, soon reappearing without hands or numbers.   The women move to a specially composed score, mostly soft and sweet.   For the first few minutes I struggled, seeking surrealism, Dali as philosopher, facets of childhood.

Then I stopped verbalizing to myself and let the show wash over me. I saw it as abstract, irrational, often beautiful. Huge eggs, flashlights, parasols and shadow puppets are featured. This show may well go deeply into the art and heart of Dali, if this matters. Do not intellectualize. Do not THINK like a reviewer. Use eyes and ears and look at images. Go with the flow, as they say: you will be rewarded.

The Dali Hours is on as part of this year's Fringe. For more information go surreal here.