Devised/Performed by: Polarbear

Reviewer: Honour Bayes

The Public Reviews Rating:

Whilst the terrain of performance poet Polarbear is a decidedly urban one of cool blue surroundings and computerised flickering descriptions, it is in many ways similar to the simple, barren beauty of the natural ice peaks that play home to his majestic animal namesake. An atmosphere of epic stillness pervades both environments, invoking an immense feeling of inquisitive calm.

The Return is an enigmatic mixture of storyboard description and intimate dialogue that skates between environmental invocation and human interaction with a confident élan that defies moment to moment categorisation.

Noah has returned from a whirlwind existence in London to a world he used to know like the back of his hand but now seems at once both alien and inherently familiar to him. Quick firing and softly spoken he pads about the stage gently imparting descriptions of names and faces in sentences reminiscent of stage directions as he sketches for us the mundane streets and front rooms of his hometown. A small pause for breath and we move from seeing these places to being in them, our focus drawn to the snatches of delicately laced dialogue mixed with idly used street slang that form the conversations between brothers, ex-girlfriends, mothers and acquaintances long forgotten who pepper Noah’s life.

Coming from the eminent Apples & Snakes company, Polarbear is unique in his subtle and suggestive approach towards spoken word performance. Whereas others in this group confidently perform fast paced works of polished brilliance, his pieces leave gaps for the audience to fill within stories that feel as though they are mere glimpses into never-ending worlds, not finalised and complete stand alone pieces. His quietness and speed sometimes make it hard for the audience to catch everything his mellow caramel tone imparts, but in leaning forward to listen, your active participation enriches this story as you get literally pulled into his world.

Marie Blunck’s minimalist design impressively reflects this performer’s direct simplicity and Yael Shavit’s outside eye has clearly enabled only the most vital parts of this piece to prevail. What is created is a story that quietly overpowers you through its economical yet beautiful prose; and a performer who can effortless invoke the beautiful normality of everyday life, whilst retaining the powerful punches of emotion that are clearly rumbling beneath the surface of every conversation, reunion and memory that permeates this young man’s return to home.

Runs until 25th March

Tags: Apples & Snakes, BAC, Battersea Arts Centre, Fringe, London, One man show, Performance Poetry, Polarbear, Spoken Word Performance, Storytelling, The Return