The Jungle and the Sea, Belvoir with Lingaylayam Dance company, 12 Nov-18 Dec

 

A reunion of the team who produced "Counting and Cracking" back in 2019, this is another story epic in length and scope dealing with recent Sri Lankan history and the traumatic recent history of that part of the subcontinent. Again dealing with a family split between Australia and Sri Lanka, about love in the middle of bigger poltical circumstances and about deeply human stories, writers and directors S. Shakthidaran and Eamon Flack push the narrative through an ever-moving revolve through cross-country and international journies, with confrontations with their own moralities and

Much like "Coutning and Cracking", the scenes set in Australia feel almost tacked on - the heart of the play is clearly in Sri Lanka. There's a building sense of tension from early on as Sri Lanka falls into civil war and simple decisions to help save others backfire and cause harm in ways unintended - when the family is split asunder and the quest to reunite begins. There's additional tragedies to come, and there's a true power in them as communicated by a cast of eight plus two ever-present musicians providing live backing. If it falters slightly in the third act with a recreation of Sophacles' "Antigone" (a fairly static debate play coming after two acts of movement and action) it gives new context to the classic by having those arguing the points be characters known to us so that we know exactly where they are coming from and why the intransigence between them cannot be easily resolved. 

It's a simply staged epic, letting the feelings lead the action as much as possible, and it's a cumulativly shattering experience with moments of beauty and power throughout. It's not often we get to see big new dramas make their premiere on Australian stages, but this is definately one to catch.