Georgian choral music, mime and clowning with heart are what you can expect from En haut (Up, up, up, up, up)

En haut (Up, up, up, up, up), is the story of a being born of an egg, and his attempts to reach the heavens, while being taunted by them.

Right from the first moments we see performer (and creator) Jasper on stage, he makes us giggle as he sneaks up to the choir singing Georgian chants and joins in, loudly and completely in discord with them. He flashes the audience a smile like a child that knows they’re doing something naughty but are going to do it anyway. A booming voice from above reminds him “you are mortal but you are not Jesus. You were born of an egg”. He makes it his mission to get to this voice in the sky. 

Dressed in nothing more than an exaggerated puffy nappy, no doubt to represent remnants of the egg shell from which he has emerged, Jasper delights (and gets a few ewww sounds) as he fumbles around and discovers a harmonica, flowers, and packing tape in the depths of the garment. These are handed to audience members for safe-keeping. He regurgitates an egg-shaped object and hands it to a front row audience member and signals to her as he says “ojeebu”, which we all then understand to be its name. Ojeebu is handed to the audience member like it’s a precious object. 

The set is quite simple. A giant cracked open egg sits on stage. The 4 piece choir stand off stage but visible on blocks.  The lighting is very effective particularly the ominous red light as he challenges the heavens in each successively higher failed attempt to reach them.

Very few words are spoken by Jasper throughout the show. The few that we do hear are French “oui, ouais” (yes, yeah) and “vas-y” (go on). Most of Jasper’s communication with us is via mime and hand signals – whether it be raising his arms like a conductor getting his orchestra to be louder – or signalling to an audience member that he wants their help. 

The live Georgian choral music is performed beautifully and powerfully by the collaborating choir, Melbourne based Tsinskaro. It recurs throughout the show, in between segments of the action on- stage.

Jasper has completed a two year diploma of theatre from École Philippe Gaulier and it shows. For an audience to sit through an hour long show in which barely any words are spoken and to not get bored is a testament to Jasper’s ability to engage the audience and keep us held in the palm of his hand. 

An unexpectedly powerful show about a being trying to find his way in the world, Jasper finds the balance between sobering and funny, and between meaningful and silly. En Haut (Up, up, up, up, up) is an egg-ceptional original show that will have you cracking up one moment and contemplating in the next. 

P.S. We dare you to find another show at Adelaide Fringe that combines clowning with Georgian chant – even in the 1400 + strong program of shows this year, we doubt you will.