The Golden Mean (Live)

Gerard Reyes, Megan Walbaum, Mark Eden-Towle, Lucy M. May, Benjamin Kamino, Mariusz Ostrowski. Photo by Sylvie-Ann Paré.

In Greek philosophy, the golden mean is the middle point between two extremes, or a mathematical ratio that defines aesthetically pleasing proportions. To renowned Quebec choreographer Marie Chouinard it represents a world of wonderful possibilities that she explores in her original contempoary dance piece The Golden Mean (Live), now on stage for a limited run at the Bluma Appel Theatre.

Created at the Vancouver cultural Olympiad on March 12, 2010, the work features 10 talented dancers—Paige Culley, Valeria Galluccio, Leon Kupferschmid, Lucie Mongrain, Mariusz Ostrowski, Sacha Ouellette-Deguire, Carol Prieur, Gerard Reyes, James Viveiros and Megan Walbaum—portraying otherworldy, but recognizably human, beings in various states of emotional and physical undress. A long catwalk extends into the audience, and some viewers are seated on the left and the right of the stage, so that everyone has a different view of the mostly masked ensemble, clad in flesh-toned, androgynous costumes and spiky blonde wigs by designer Vandal.

The performers are framed by Alexis Bowles' seductive lighting, and often caught on camera, so that specific images are amplified on multiple screens throughout the show. Accompanied by industrial and orchestral musical by Louis Dufort, the dance swings between extremes: from joy to despair, from the erotic to the infantile, from beautiful to repulsive, from grave to the downright comical (Toronto audiences can expect a hilarious representation of Prime Minister Stephen Harper). It is fascinating to watch, and strangely haunting to hear the heavy breathing and primal vocal sounds and words that punctuate the dancers' movements.

However, the fact that the performers are masked for the majority of the performance is somewhat alienating, and it is refreshing when a gorgeously exposed Carol Prieur takes the stage for a vulnerable solo scene.

The Golden Mean (Live) is a challenging piece to be sure. It can be hard to do the math, so to speak, when trying to figure out the meaning of it all. It's probably best not to overthink it. Simply sit back and enjoy Chouinard's imagination at work.

Catch The Golden Mean (Live) until May 12 at the Bluma Appel Theatre. Visit canadianstage.com for more information and to buy tickets.

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