A man sits slumped over in his chair. A woman lies face down on the floor; she’s suddenly dragged away through a door. We are immediately drawn into the surreal world of Diptych, where the laws of gravity are flexible, and the boundaries of reality are stretched.
In a setting where everything is a bit off kilter, the characters on stage grapple with their own personal demons while struggling to understand the events around them. The man who dragged the woman away returns to frantically wipe the floor, his rag getting the better of him as it seems to have a mind of its own. He stumbles around the stage and tries to unlock one of the many doors surrounding him, but he is trapped. The key begins to vibrate and so does he, then everyone on stage is shaking. Similar moments happen throughout, everyone in beautiful unison to achieve a surreal effect.
Behind each door is an unknown quantity, you never know what will emerge. A man blows in with some newspapers, and everyone tumbles around on the floor as if bowled over by the force. There are some beautiful duets full of complex emotion and unique partnering. One couple moved as if the woman was a mannequin, lifting her up from between her legs, her body stiff and light. Another woman stumbles around on her high heels, rolling her ankles in a way that would appear painful in any other circumstance, before weakly falling into her partner.
Things begin to fall apart amidst maniacal laughter. A chair falls over, a door frame tilts forward, and we begin again with the man wiping blood off the floor. A new version of the same reality emerges as the walls of Gabriela Carrizo and Justine Bougerol’s set are turned around to reveal another perspective from the other side, inside a shapeshifting hotel room. A baby cries, people unexpectedly spill out of the closet, and something emerges from the bed. The combination of innovative choreography and unexpected events is riveting.
We hear thunder, bees. A rooster crows. Things seem to devolve into horror. A woman sits alone on a chair and begins to speak: “Why do I always have to repeat myself? Did I disappoint you again? I’ve given you so much, but it’s never enough. What else do you want from me? Just tell me what to do.” Her words, coupled with what we’ve just witnessed, are haunting.
