THEATRE REVIEW: Rituals of Similarity
05.08.23 Q Theatre, Auckland
Entering the Loft at Q theatre, we are met with a blank canvas. Brittany and Natasha Kohler are holding onto one another, tied together with a big red bean bag nestled in between. With their faces hidden within the folds, they form a single entity, blurring individual distinctions; you cannot tell who is who.
The performance unfolds in a dark, watery ambiance, with crackling sounds and echoes creating an immersive experience. We are back in the womb. The dancers hold each other in a foetal position, embodying both unity and conflict. Their coexistence is a blend of reliance and struggle.
As an only child I’ve always wondered what it would be like to grow up with a twin. I often felt quite lonely, wanting someone to share my experiences and reflect on our upbringing. Rituals of Similarity beautifully captures the complexity of this connection, contrasting an unbreakable bond with an underlying tension. Even when Brittany and Natasha are not physically in contact, they are connected through their gaze, which only grows in intensity.
There is a push and pull within their twinhood that rocks us into a trance-like state. When Brittany and Natasha embrace in an intense hug, it quickly turns into a scrap - they yell and run into each other until, exhausted, they suddenly go into a Slime Yuck roulette. The tension in their choreography depicts aspects of their childhood and the growing pains of sibling rivalry, conflict, frustration. The birthday cake sequence felt symbolic of the strain in shared experiences: the shared birthday, shared cake, shared everything of their existence. It was as if they were motioning “happy birthday to you” back and forth, over and over again.
Beyond their duet, the dancers also showcased their individuality strongly. I found that Brittany had a soft, fluid energy whereas Natasha had a fierce curiosity within their gaze. Both dynamics balanced one another within the choreography. They showcased their physical talent and technical ability with complex contemporary dance sequences - it was almost like watching an acrobatics duo at one point. They each perform their individual solos, taking up space and moving freely without one another. Brittany and Natasha create a world of their own on stage, enveloping the audience in their bond.
The robotic-like dialogue was my favourite part. The humour within the in-sync, harmonised voices was a great breakthrough. However, I wanted more stories of what it was like for them to have this dual yet separate identity - all the nuances they have developed, all the names and identities that they've had mixed up. I particularly wanted to know more about what it’s like for them to now work together and to be in the same line of profession - how have they journeyed through these challenges?
I enjoyed the simple and clean tones of amber, pink and white from the lighting designer Paul Bennett, which paired well with the costume and set design. The bean bag became an important prop, symbolising their connection, the placenta, their bond, and perhaps their comfort zone. Questions of existence are rooted in the exchange of the beanbag. When Brittany sits on the bean bag and she asks, “what makes me, me? What makes you, you? What makes us, us?”. The performance comes full circle when Brittany brings the bean bag back, echoing the beginning. I wonder if they were asking each other: “was it easier when we were back in the womb together?”
As a multi-disciplinary art lover and creator, I enjoyed the elements of voice, props, and other mediums. I wanted more of these elements to be fleshed out in the performance as there is so much potential for contemporary dancers to be more than just traditionally perceived “dancers” - we can incorporate interdisciplinary ideas to a performance.
Beyond the exploration of their relationship as twins, Rituals of Similarity also reflects humanity's quest for individuality within societal norms. I was given a glimpse of what their world feels like and enjoyed their duality as well as their individuality within the performance.
The twins really were a double-trouble duo. I hope they keep on developing this work and sharing their story of twinhood, friendship, and their beautiful in-sync movements.
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Check out more about Rituals of Similarity here!
Co-Presented By: Dance Plant Collective and Q Theatre
Choreographers and Performers: Brittany Kohler and Natasha Kohler
Producer: Julie Zhu
Set Designer: Talia Pua
Costume Designer: Zoë McNicholas
Lighting Designer & Op: Paul Bennett
Sound Designer: Lucien Johnson
Image Credit: Amanda Billing