Despite calling the event ‘Warm’, the recently held performance at Salihara Theater was proven to be far from warm but more sweaty hot.

Reading through the event pamphlet, audiences were prepared to witness an acrobatic performances by French duo wrapped under what was explained as heat and stage lights that could go up to 45 degrees.

We had no idea what to expect.

On Saturday, 15th of June,  ‘Warm’ became the second out of the six other performances held weekly in a program by Salihara called Helateater. The name itself is derived from two words, Helat (festivity) and Teater (Theatre) —  where the program is intended to become a small festival showcasing the art forms of collective theatre groups.

Before the show started, audiences were already welcomed by the thick and humid air, as if pushing us to understand the uneasiness performers will soon deal with. 30 minutes in, the room was crowded, each seat were occupied, and the fascination over the intense heat slowly became quiet irritation of people fanning themselves with show booklets and wiping off each droplets of sweat.

The main intention of the heated room was to take this  form of circus-theater into the next level. The elasticity of acrobats are defined by their tight grip. Sweat, no matter how little, can disrupt the overall concentration and balance of the artists. This was however, was the challenge the duo acrobats, Alexandre Fray and Frederic Arsenault, were aiming for.

For an intense 45 minutes, the swayed movements of the two men were accompanied by the bold vocals of actress Ine Febriyanti – giving her own life to the performance. Every movement, every interaction were narrated with an Indonesian translation of Ronan Cheneau‘s script with the same title ‘Warm.’ The script is represented by a women as she trails off her sensual imagination. “Lelaki dan perempuan.. lelaki dan lelaki, bayi dan bayi…”  (Men and women, men against men, babies against babies…) continuing her wild exploration of erotic thoughts between the union of any human beings.

The presence of actress Ine Febriyanti gave the narration a very  raunchy and erotic feel to it. If the movements between the two acrobats stood alone, the performance was anything but vulgar, in fact it wasn’t even sensual, the union of the two men were graceful in their embrace. What was admired throughout the show is undeniably – other than the totality of characters all three performers – was the intense focus Alexandre Fray and Frederic Arsenault had to pick each other up. Especially after realizing during the last few minutes, the unbearable heat would sooner or later break their mentality and physique. Clearly, an immeasurable amount of trust to go through each jump was no doubt a value they shared – especially having explained of  their 16 years of performing together.

As we, the audience, admired each word and movement, by the end of the show we were drenched in sweat from head to toe and to our surprise, as we got out the hall  gave a rare comment of how breezy Jakarta became for us. Giving us a perfect ending to cool down from the heated performance.

 Komunitas Salihara/Foto by Witjak