Babel

Geräuschbiest—West End Cultural Centre-Ventura Hall

The Tower of Babel story in the Old Testament (for those of you who read the Bible) is a familiar one, where the people attempt to build a tower to reach the heavens and God themselves, before the deity confuses their languages, and the tower collapses in absolute confusion. The Riel Gentlemen’s Choir (clad in carpenter’s denim and tools) bring that story to life with song and with wood. The musical instruments they use look like they were hewn from the forest itself, and the choir builds the tower on stage using planks – before it descends into madness. The power of the men’s voices and the power of the visual marry into something I’ve never seen before. It’s a true original, and a show truly worthy of the Fringe. And my praise.

Karl Eckstrand