Up until this night I had never heard of or seen a ‘uni-tard’. I certainly wouldn’t have expected my first encounter of this costume to be within a show that purports to explore issues of loss through the death of a loved one. However, after this evening I believe ALL things are possible when mourning thanks to the Adelaide Fringe Festival’s Ashes to Ashes: songs of loss and longing.
Having now entered this new costume term into my computer’s vocabulary, I will now endeavour to review this show objectively although I confess I am completely sold on it.
As one almost last hurrah to their parent’s death, Emily Davis and Clementine Ford present Ashes to Ashes to Ashes: songs of loss and longing. This show was created out of an inner need to express their grief and share the personal journey of both girls. Clementine lost her mother in 2007 to cancer and in 2008 Emily’s father was diagnosed with dementia and died later of an aggressive form of motor neuron disease.
Sharing the soundtrack to their experiences, the girls successfully create an intimate environment through the power of their music and theatre. Originals and translations of classics are played and sung. The moment Emily strikes her first note I was taken with goose bumps. Smooth… a voice like chocolate as one audience member put it. Although the songs were convincing in their sincerity, at times the polish was applied and the raw and beautiful quality of their natural voices disappeared for a moment. Two other band members join the girls” Asher and Mel who compliment the shows laid back style with their supportive performance.
The connection between both girls is immediately evident as they sing and banter their way through the show. Having been through similar experiences has evidently fused their understanding of such tragic circumstances. Through the painful memories they poetically and at times not so poetically recount their stories. These narratives are punctuated with giggles with at-first surprising frequency. This unpretentious approach to the show seemed to enable the audience to relax and all were laughing candidly along with the girls black humour and awkward costume moments.
Interpretive dance, Amy Winehouse anecdotes, Johnny Cash and 7 golden steps in mourning are all included in this genuine exploration of what it can mean to loose somebody. Clementine is to be applauded for her hilarious wit – both girls are funny but Clementine often had the audience eating out of her palm.
The often-uncomfortable moments during times of mourning are dealt with in a sensitive and also amusing way. Speaking out loud the thoughts some of us may have had when grieving or while supporting others who are, the girls make it all ok.
Naturally a show of this kind based on a true story, told by the people who experienced the story is going to be believable. However, the emotion was raw and the honest and down-to-earth nature of the girl’s performance was what inevitably sold it to me.
The Adelaide Fringe Festival’s Ashes to Ashes: songs of loss and longing: will make you laugh, maybe cry – at least will wet the tear ducts, and will make you look at grief, dying and loss in a way to never be ashamed of again.
