I was not sure exactly when One Small Thing, by Mairéad Filgate playing at the 2016 SummerWorks Festival, began. The theme of this movement piece was discovering artistry in mundane movement. As the audience sat on benches that surround an urban park on Queen West, the team of performers strode purposefully across the square. Other passers-by used the space as well, walking their dogs and going about their business, unaware or unsure that a performance was taking place.

While I understood what the choreographer and performers were trying to do, this is the type of performance piece I have always struggled to get into. For me it felt like the walking went on for a long time. Walking occurred in different directions, and different formations comprised of various members of the ensemble, and eventually the entire ensemble. Eventually, the ensemble created formations in the centre of the space that required them to use one another as supports in a manner that clearly required strength and flexibility.

One Small Thing really was not my cup of tea, and unfortunately I got out of work late and missed the performance that I was actually there to see. One Small Thing is a double feature with Broken Lines, an Indian classical dance in the bharatanatyam style. The dancers engage in a chaotic race to the finish line. According to the audience members I asked while we were waiting for One Small Thing to begin, the quality of the dancing in Broken Lines was superb.

Details

Broken Lines/One Small Thing plays at The Theatre Centre BMO Incubator (1115 Queen St. West)

Show Times:

• Saturday, August 13, 7:45 – 8:45 PM

Individual SummerWorks tickets are $15 at the door (cash only). Youth Series tickets are $10, Live Art Series ticket prices vary. Tickets are available online at http://summerworks.ca, by phone at 416-320-5779 and in person at the SummerWorks Central Box Office – located at Factory Theatre (125 Bathurst St). Open August 2-14 from 10am-7pm. Cash and credit accepted.

Several money-saving passes are available if you plan to see at least 3 shows.

Photo from One Small Thing provided by SummerWorks.