by Mike Hoban
‘See You Yesterday’ – Presented by ArtsEmerson and the Global Arts Corps, at the Emerson Paramount Center Robert J. Orchard Stage through Sunday May 19
ArtsEmerson closes out its 2018/2019 season with a 65-minute circus arts/theatrical piece that uses the horrors of the Khmer Rouge genocide as a basis for its narrative, as told by second generation survivors. And while the results are a bit uneven (this is the U.S. premiere), the young artists deliver a vibrant and sometimes chilling performance, telling their story through movement, dance and of course, circus arts. While much of the piece features the prodigious acrobatic talents of the 19-person troupe, it is the episodes from the Cambodian Killing Fields – which claimed the lives of more than a million people at the hands of the Khmer Rouge regime (although death totals for the four-year reign of Pol Pot were double that) – that give this production its real emotional weight.
Interspersed with an array of juggling, aerials and gymnastics is the story of the rise of the Khmer Rouge as a genocide machine. The artists convey that story line wordlessly, as they are summarily rounded up and literally worked to death in the rice fields. In the evening’s most compelling scene, a woman gives birth and is killed right after delivery. Another woman from the camp escapes with the baby with the help of a man who strikes a camp guard, and the ensuing chase scene is utterly captivating. Using just their bodies, the cast forms an intricate obstacle course of jungle, mountains and rivers for the men to navigate as the guard relentlessly pursues the man – and it’s thrilling to observe.
Despite the horrifying source material, this is also a joyous show, as the artists take time out to perform their specialties. The performers use less props than other circus arts troupes, relying more on their own bodies for many of the routines. There’s a decided western flavor to many of the dance/movement performances, featuring some pretty impressive break dancing, and the accompanying macho bravado after the (male) performers finish their routines is much like the post-play celebrations in the NFL. See You Yesterday often has the feel of a work in progress, as its parts exceed its whole as a production, but it’s still very much worth a look. For tickets and info, go to: https://artsemerson.org
