The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk is the story of the Chagalls; Marc the painter and Bella his wife, muse and a writer in her own right. Marc and Bella's lives were lived against a backdrop of two world wars, the Russian revolution, escaping from places they were no longer welcome and the destruction of their Jewish community, and eventually virtually the whole town of Vitebsk.
A complex history, made somewhat easier by flicking through the timeline of their lives on the bottom of the programme pages! Not that you need to know it to enjoy the show, you don't need to know Chagall's work or anything about him or his times, Kneehigh, in their own inimitable style, make it just so easy to follow and enjoy.
Elements of the style of Chagall's paintings were mixed with what I found to be almost children's illustrated book imagery and music with more than a hint of Peter and the Wolf in its ability to carry the story. In fact music is a crucial part of this play throughout - helping us with location, time and emotion both in its underscoring of the action and the singing, which I found utterly delightful. Great wedding dance too!
Marc Antolin and Audrey Brisson as Marc and Bella are compelling, energetic, sensual and so completely inhabit the characters that we can but be taken along for the ride. Music is provided by Ian Ross and James Gow who also provide additional characters, set moving and even lighting effects as required. A trully versatile ensemble with a stand-out performance from Audrey.
I would happily see this again. And again. And probably again, again. Delightful, delicious theatre as we've come to expect from the talented team at Kneehigh.
