{plgMFV}

The night opened with a wild plethora of imagery and tentative brashness demonstrated to us by Alexandrina Hemsley and Jamila Johnson-Small in 'O'.

The piece is segmented in a way that keeps you on your toes. It gives you a commentary on the process of making the work, and the distractions that come within the act of starting something new. This then somehow blends into themes of feminine sexuality, and how it is observed. The opening scenario is the moment which stayed with me most: the simple but 'in your face' image of both performers on all fours writhing and articulating in velour jeans and rubber boots, while the soundtrack tells us "I'm gunna take that bitch to college." You could say the 'in your face' provocative imagery is really Bellyflop's strength, for example the unexpected beauty of lip syncing to 'Addicted to Bass' in a long straggly wig. However, there are a lot of ideas to fit into one piece, and it becomes a little too busy at times.

Hemsley and Johnson-Small have a magnetic energy in both their performance quality and their creative partnership, and they are definitely a pair to look out for in future.

The second piece of the program was Improvisation by Seke Chimutengwende and Charlotte Ashwell, who bounce effortlessly off each other. They have an intelligent yet natural relationship which feels safe while still daring and compelling. This was a perfect addition to the program, and cleverly structured.

For the most part of The Mermaid and The Hammer, I was a frustrated audience member, trying to make sense out of two woollen mermaids who were nonchalantly banging a hammer. However after this continued for 5-10 minutes, it was the audience's reaction which became more interesting to observe as it fluctuated. The program note reads: 'These performances are an invitation to inhabit the moment before laughter, that delicious suspension where nonsense and sense, the vague and the purposeful, meet and dance together.' The Mermaid and The Hammer was difficult, but interesting viewing.

The audience then exited the auditorium to discover a giant glittery cake in the foyer and the final offering of the night from Eleanor Sikorski. The sound of bells faintly emanated from within the structure, before Sikorski burst from the top, showering the audience with marshmallows, glitter, love-hearts, and condoms. She rotated on top of the cake, singing in tune with her children's bell set, asking awkward questions to individuals, and throwing yet more glitter. Sikorski's performance was perhaps the most assured of the night. Hilarious and beautiful, poignant yet self mocking, and performed with the audience control of a seasoned comic.


Wild Card - a new initiative by Sadlers Wells has two more evenings coming up in February and March 2013

12 Feb 2013 - Dan Canham: www.sadlerswells.com/show/Dan-Canham

14 Mar 2013 - Ivan Blackstock: www.sadlerswells.com/show/Ivan-Blackstock

'O' by Alexandrina Hemsley and Jamila Johnson-Small will be performed again at Michaelis Theatre, Roehampton 31st January 6pm