D-Light Studios, situated on a small residential back street on the north side of the city, is one of the more far-flung Fringe venues. It’s also one that always builds expectation through the feeling of secrecy surrounding its location and the raw edges of the warehouse space.

50% Male Experimental Theatre’s latest offering Figure It Out seems set to live up to this auspicious setting at its beginning with a striking opening scene. The space is empty save for a rough-hewn log at the back of centre-stage and a clothing-draped bath stage-left. A lone female dancer cuts a Cinderella figure in boots and a pinafore dress.

A piece about the capriciousness of women, the performance sees four female dancers inhabit a variety of scenarios, from child-like capering in peasant skirts to provocative nightclub gyrations in high-heels. Throughout, the dancing is significantly bolstered by excellent live musical accompaniment from Przemyslaw Lozowski, Grzegorz Kondys, Dorota Konczewska, and Marcin Natorski.
Occasionally, there are striking images. The most notable of these is towards the close of the work where the four dancers arrange themselves in a linear series of poses ranging from crouch to upright stance, echoing the evolution of man.

Overall, however, Figure It Out is a piece that seems unsure of itself. The pace falters as the work progresses, the performers seeming less and less clear about which trope of female contrariness they are communicating as they go on. This culminates in an ill-judged ending where speech is introduced for the first time, creating a jarring experience.

Star rating: ★★