DUEL REALITY

This show at the Ahmanson is absolutely fantastic! So, if you’re anywhere near SoCal this week-end, I strongly suggest that you run right out to see Duel Reality because Sunday is your last chance! [Note: In case you noticed it, yes, the term the title is taken from is spelled “duAl reality, not “duEl, but this is a clever take on that, hence the different spelling.] What a wonderful season of productions at the Ahmanson this has been! And this one is no exception.

Duel Reality is a jaw-dropping, amazing entertainment, performed by Les 7 doigts de la main, (or “7 Fingers” here in the U.S.,) a troupe of inventive and marvelously talented acrobats from Montreal. Their tag line is, “Telling human stories with superhuman skills,” which actually sums them up perfectly.

The performance is a display of amazing acrobatic feats by the group. I’ve seen two of their previous artistic endeavors, which is why I knew I’d move heaven and earth to see this offering from them, which turned-out to be a tad different from their norm in that it had a bit of a story to the proceedings. Duel Reality is basically 7 Fingers’ take on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, minus the tragic conclusion. (At the end, one of the cast members tells us, “We changed the ending because who needs a tragedy these days?” That’s very appreciated, at least by moi.)

For me, though, their physical achievements are sooo spectacular that a narrative is totally not necessary. No one would lose interest if the troupe just performed those with no context. Perhaps they include a tale to make it more interesting for themselves, which is totally understandable.

There are eleven cast members, and all of them appear to possess multiple acrobatic talents, and at the end of the production, some of them even play guitars and sing.

I had two favorite acts. First is what I’m dubbing “The World’s Strongest Couple,” Michelle Hernandez and Gerardo Gutierrez. Their “hand-to-hand” performance literally took my breath away. As the Romeo and Juliet of the show, they end it on the trapeze, with moves that made us scream! (I hope they’re a couple in real life because their chemistry is a thing of beauty.)

My other fave is the fearless teeterboard duo of Anton Erik Persson and Per Einar Kling Odencrants, (who has perhaps the best name ever!) And I loved the surprise ending to their act. There are some audience seats on the stage*, and would I really love to see Duel Reality again from one of them, but I’m afraid that witnessing these guys so up-close and personal might give me a heart attack! *[Note: If those seats on the stage sound good to you, you should inquire about them. But, as my friend Jan pointed-out, you won’t get to see the background images, which we really enjoyed.]

There are also a hula hoops act by Ashleigh Roper; dueling jugglers, (one with balls, one with clubs,) Daniela Corradi and Santiago Rivera; and diabolo artist Arata Urawa. The opening features the company’s famous pole work, and rounding-out the cast are Marco Ingaramo, Miliève Modin-Brisbois, and Adam Fulick.

I didn’t want any segment to end! I kept hearing “Oh My God,” from audience members the whole time, while the more genteel among them exclaimed, “Oh my gosh.”

The performers’ incredible skills are accompanied by constant interesting recorded music selections, which are appropriate for each section of the show. They even use a bit of Sergei Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet ballet music at the beginning to showcase the presentation’s theme. How very apt.

Duel Reality is very short, (being a bit under seventy minutes, but it felt like only ten because I wanted it to continue,) with no intermission. And no net!

The only quirk of the entire event that I didn’t love is that they recite lines from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet from time to time. Acting is not the acrobats’ strong suit, and some of their recitations even elicited some chuckles, (in a sweet way,) from the crowd I saw it with. Also, good thing the words were projected onto the backdrop. Let’s leave it at that.

Lastly, (and lightly,) I do have to give my fellow germaphobes a possible warning about something not on the stage. As each patron enters the theatre, they’re given a red or blue wristband, so they know which side of the Shakespearean “conflict” to root for. That part is fun. At the end, they lead you to take them off and throw them in the air. And then they ask you to return them to the ushers, which seems to me to mean that the wristbands will be reused at the other performances. I was aghast at the thought that someone else’s germs had been transferred to my wrist! (And hair—I used my band to hold mine back, to not annoy my seatmates with tons of tresses!) I’m hoping I’m wrong, and that we return them just to make sure they’re disposed of properly, but just in case, maybe don’t take one. Or disinfect your hands right away.

The wristband issue aside, you’d be a fool to miss this brilliant show at the Ahmanson! I feel that we all need something like Duel Reality in our lives right now!

Duel Reality running through September 22, 2024, 2024

Ahmanson Theatre  135 N. Grand Avenue
213-972-4400 www.centertheatregroup.org