Gravity, it turns out, is highly overrated. Really, who needs it? Certainly not the acrobats I recently saw at The New Victory Theater in their show, A Simple Space. The acrobats who hail from Australia, are part of a troupe aptly named Gravity and Other Myths; indeed, throughout the show the performers constantly challenged gravity in their incredible feats.
Although A Simple Space claims it is a no-frills type of show with nothing but a small space on which to perform, there is nothing simple about it. Combining gymnastics, acrobatics and humor, the show features lots of backflips, lifting people up and tossing them from one person to another, plus you get to see people jumping. There’s a lot of jumping going on – onto heads, shoulders, even bellies. Most of the moves leave you gasping and wondering if anyone is going to fall and get hurt but luckily they don’t. There are lots of surprises and unexpected moves and you keep wondering to yourself “what will they do next?”
My favorite part of the show was when the performers gave the audience small plastic balls that we were supposed to throw on them, which eventually led to a ball fight. How often do you get to have a ball fight with your performer in the middle of a show? Or anywhere, really?
In a unique gesture, stage seating is available – and for only several dollars more than orchestra seating – and it is totally worth it! Sitting on stage allows you to not only be present and see how the performers are doing – when they catch their breath after carrying a performer and tossing her to another, when they pat each other on the back at the end of a complicated jump or when they sneak a wink at each other after an especially complex move. Not only that but sitting on stage allows you to see how happy they are to perform and how proud they are of their hard work (they typically train for several hours per day). Regardless of where you sit, though, you are guaranteed to be watching a first-rate acrobatic performance.
The show is an hour long with no intermission and is recommended for kids ages six and up.
209 West 42nd St., New York
Photos by Maike Schultz
I was not compensated for this post. I received tickets to the show. Don’t miss: A Simple Space at The New Victory Theater
Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for eighteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 12, 9 and 6) and loves finding great products for her family.
Leave a Reply