Soap @ Underbelly: A Wet and Wild Night

Picture a circus and what do you see? Elephants? Clowns? Trapeze Artists? Now picture a circus obsessed with water, filled with moisture, slippery with H20, and you begin to get a sense of Soap.  Soap, conceived and choreographed by Markus Pabst and Maximillian Rambaek, opens with an opera singer and closes with the whole cast dancing in the "rain." Between these two acts are sandwiched a multitude of acrobatic dances that involve water-themed music and celebrates fluidity of sexuality.

Each performer specialized in a different set of acrobatics, that was introduced by the opera singer or the "clown" character. The acrobatic sets ranged from juggling to aerial trapeze ballets accompanied by captivating music and bathtubs! The music complements the intense ballet productions, while the bath tubs add a unique aspect to the performances. Some performances were solo-acts, whereas others involved two or more of the performers. The most intriguing performances consisted of two or more acrobats and explored different dynamics of relationships. One of the male acrobats performed alongside two female acrobats and there was a back and forth relationship ongoing between one of the female performers and the male performer. During the performance, Breathe Me by Sia pleased the ears of the viewer, whilst creating a deep, sensual tension between the performers. At the end of the performance the two female acrobats presumably kissed and left the male acrobat in the past. Soap exudes support for the LGBT+ community through exploring relationship dynamics and breaking gender roles. The most intriguing performance displayed two male acrobats supporting each other and splashing water in the act.

There is no room for those with a sense of fragile masculinity during this act. Both acrobats sentimentality pranced around the stage and used each other's bodies to balance. The symbiotic relationship between the two acrobats was sensual yet explored dynamics of masculinity that might be uncomfortable for some. The younger acrobat stood upon the lower abdomen of the other acrobat, which allowed the act to be interpreted in many ways. Usually a female performer would play the role of the younger male performer, but this interpretation carried more of an impact. The choreography crafted a performance that broke gender roles and allowed the audience to enjoy the various dynamics of non-conforming behavior. 

The multitude of performances created a sensual spectacle similar to that of a circus. The funky music adds an element to the show that allows the viewer to dance along. The brilliant performers broke out at the end of the show and danced in synchronization under the rain. Using water as an accessory throughout the show adds a distinctive factor to the performances creating a wet and wild (literally) adventure for the audience. The chemistry between the performers and the accompanying music provides a show that is sensual, funny, and enjoyable. After leaving the performance, you wont be able to stop singing Bobby Darin's Splish Splash.