Edge Two is a lively mix of solo performances

Edge Two features three solo performers. First up is Sara Coffin with "I've Been Here Before". The piece is an excellent showcase for this emerging choreographer and performer.

Her work is strongly supported by the sound design of Phil Thomson - a mix of electronic music sounds and ragged breathing. Coffin is a solid mover who creates a daring mood by pushing her body farther and farther resulting in a frantic ending which shows us the limits of human movement.

The second performer is Ron Stewart. We see two excerpts from from WhaT,? - a full-length work choreographed by Jennifer Mascall and performed by Ron Stewart. This solo dance performance tells the story of father and son who are more connected than they realize. The first excerpt is "Liebchen: A WWII paratrooper's letter to his wife describing his first jump from a plane" which features lovely projections and movement (although the use of a microphone is distracting). The second excerpt from WhaT,? is "Have you got your hearing aid in?: Conversations between a son and father." This excerpt is a humourous exploration of a son talking to his aging father with effective use of repetition when the son tries to communicate. I would have liked to see the entire piece to learn the whole story of this father-son relationship.

Karen Rose is the evening's third performer. Her piece, The Remembrance Trilogy, consists of three solos which she choreographed to music by Henryk Gorecki and Samuel Barber. She states this work is a testament to women of war, victim and survivor. The first solo, called "The Widow's Walk" is the most moving. Rose wears a blood-red gown and walks slowly upstage; she turns to show us her grief and despair. We see images of a firing squad and of a woman alone in her bed, clutching the sheets for cold comfort. I felt that the next two solos, "Helene" and "HALT" were less effective than the first solo and essentially covered similar themes.

CREDITS:
Sara Coffin - I've Been Here Before
Choreographer / Performer: Sara Coffin
Sound Design: Phil Thomson

Jennifer Mascall - What,?
Choreographer: Jennifer Mascall
Performer: Ron Stewart
Sound Design: Doug Macauly
Soundtrack: Doug Macauly, Greg Sanko, Stefan Smulovitz, Ian Cook
Creative Team: Jay Gower Taylor, John Macfarlan, Ziyian Kwan, Jennifer Mascall, James Proudfoot

Karen Rose - The Remembrance Trilogy
Choreographer / Performer: Karen Rose
Composers: Henryk Gorecki & Samuel Barber