FRINGE '04 REVIEW: Evil Fiona’s Love Test

For lovers, lechers, losers and users, Evil Fiona’s Love Test is a provocative blend of interpretative dance and music, exploring that sordid game called love.

For lovers, lechers, losers and users, Evil Fiona’s Love Test is a provocative blend of interpretative dance and music, exploring that sordid game called love.

The way Fiona plays it, the game is more often brutal than gentle.

The dancers – two female and one male – act out the full gamut of love-games, from flirtation to manipulation, alienation to adulation. The dance is expressive, intricately choreographed and, for the most part, well executed with only a few glaring balls-ups.

In a voice as deep and sultry as her cantilevered cleavage, Katherine van Beek sings quirky, funny songs to introduce each scene. She sets the mood with rock star style and the rest of the music, including Calexico and Shirley Bassey, is well matched to the dance.

Although engaging, the performance feels a little over-long. There are some moments of humour (at one point the male character is scared offstage with his pants around his ankles) but more would be welcome. In the end, love makes fools of us all.

On the whole, though, it’s a rewarding show. If watching skimpily dressed women roll around on the floor ain’t your bag, baby, don’t bother, but everyone else will enjoy.

ENDS

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