Fuerzabruta
Most people in London seem to have heard of it. Their eyes light up in recognition. They say they have tickets or can’t wait to see it. But no one seems to know exactly what it is. Until they’ve been. However, I’ve been and I still have absolutely no idea what was going on.
Whatever was actually going on, it was visually stunning, a test to the neck for craning, a test to your tolerance for close proximity on personal space, with elements of sheer exhilaration enhanced by the carnival atmosphere and live music.
Running additional dates for the last two months at Camden’s trendy Roundhouse, Director Diqui James and Technical Director Alejandro Garcia can proudly boast they’ve added these extra 100 shows due to popular demand. (This show actually reopened the Roundhouse back in 2006, and has since been touring the world)
Ushered through to the main stage, we were herded into the centre. Elbow to elbow with thrill seekers. The room barely lit, loud noises filled the auditorium, and the stage flooded with primary colours as seven or so enthusiastic drummers began raising everyone’s heart beats and heightening impatient moods.
Then came a handsome devil, dressed in a white suit, on a revolving catwalk through the centre. He was dramatically shot within the first ten minutes. Then he began to run, and doesn’t really stop running. Running through walls, up steps, over tables and chairs.. all a little bonkers. I assumed there was a deeper meaning, he was trying to get through middle earth or purgatory or something, to reach his place of rest. I still have no idea what he was doing. But it was interesting to watch.
Then the ceiling above us lowered. In two separate tanks, three water babies on two different sheets of thick plastic descended to just above our heads, where we happily/ weirdly could touch them. They splished, sploshed and belly flopped in shallow water above us, having such a lovely time. We leant back to watch, everyone taking pictures. No one I’m sure having any idea of why this was happening. But seemed like fun all the same.
Following another instalment from the running man, we watched a greenhouse bubble appear above us, with holes pushed through, and the actors dangling through them, all set in time to the music. Lighting and music really were impressive, as well as the creativity behind such an energetic spectacle.
The show concluded with the euphorically happy drummers’ return, craving some energy after 80 minutes of standing/ pushing/ nudging, I thoroughly enjoyed their final set, and perhaps wished they had featured more.
A pleasant experience, be it a little bewildering, as I fear the ‘brute force’ was sadly a little lost on me.
Whose Boots Are Those Shoes? 
You’ve summed up my experience completely, but I could never put it as eloquently! I’m glad I wasn’t the only one left a little lost by the whole thing, I thought I must just be terribly uncultured! LOL