Salonica leaves you speechless
It was a poignant story which said so much in so few words.
Salonica - a title that rolls off the tongue - was performed in Hamilton on March 1-2 at Playhouse Theatre.
Directed by Waikato University’s own senior lecturer Laura Haughey from Equal Voices Arts, the show was a masterclass in physical theatre.
It was a well-rounded, thoughtprovoking, comprehensible performance that conveyed so many details without one actor ever needing to part his lips.
The show followed the story of a Serbian soldier fresh from combat (Mihailo Ladevac) and a Deaf Kiwi sapper (Shaun Fahey), a survivor of Gallipoli. With no shared language they developed a way of communicating through their everyday joys, sorrows and letters home.
New Zealander Shaun Fahey is a Deaf actor and his first language is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL).
Mihailo Ladevac, an actor for the National Theatre in Serbia, has Serbian as his native tongue.
The show was performed in NZSL, Serbian and English, with neither of the languages taking priority over another. The characters formed a fast friendship and refused to let the communication barrier isolate them.
What unfolded were scenes of humour, happiness and heavyhearted reflections.
Memories of snowball fights and summer days materialised in front of the audience through the use of natural sign language, mime and physical theatre.
Violent warfare was displayed in a rhythmic and rigorous way that almost resembled contemporary dance.
The translation of NZSL into English was light-hearted and realistic.
This was all accompanied by a most beautiful live soundtrack performed admirably by Andy Duggan.
With impeccable acting from the duo and a melancholic musical score, Salonica demonstrated the bitterness of war made sweet in some way by a fleeting friendship.
But the lasting impression lingered on like the World War I ghosts the characters were reconnected with.
Salonica was the first show of its kind to tour internationally, and had performances in the UK, Serbia and Montenegro.
- Reviewed by Kelley Tantau.