When Angels Fall

ArtsEmerson's latest offering is a stark and haunting new work by Director and Choreographer Rapha�lle Boitel – "When Angels Fall." Ms. Boitel is a storyteller, but her language is movement. There are no words uttered in the roughly 70-minute work, but it captivates from the first moment.

Set in a near future dystopia, it is a work of chiaroscuro. The stage is a black void where a small ensemble of seven performers seem to appear and disappear in to nothingness.

We are presented a world of total detachment. In silence, humans operate in their own little worlds; never interacting or even acknowledging each other. There is a mechanical nature to their movements implying that humans have become little more than drones.

As with any dystopian story, the human spirit can only be controlled for so long before it begins to emerge. It starts with one person that the others must suppress. However, in order to do so, they must work together and by necessity begin to acknowledge each other.

And so, the awakening begins.

It is a visually stunning work. Ms. Boitel's combination of dance, aerialism, and occasional slap stick is both beautiful and accessible. And this is where Tristan Baudin's spectacular lighting becomes another critical component. The spotlights used are rigged to move and articulate and so become their own characters. We never see humanity's oppressors, but they seem to be represented by the lights. One imagines the lights doubling as cameras – always watching and ready to expose any transgression.

There are many memorable moments in such a short work including a stunning pas de deux that takes place in light and shadow, a breathtaking Chinese pole routine, and a wonderfully heartwarming moment when one of the actors discovers their voice again.

For all the bleakness presented, it is ultimately a story of hope. The works bittersweet resolution is a reminder that we can all ascend beyond those things that seek to hold us down.

The only drawback to this moving production is that it is only in Boston for a few short days.

"When Angels Fall" continues through February 22 at the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre, 219 Tremont Street, Boston, MA. For more information, the ArtsEmerson website.