We saw two really fantastic performances today at BYU. Off the Map in an international arts festival that brings unconventional theater to Provo. The festival curator wanted to present audiences with unique, sometimes bizarre productions from other countries. This is the third year of the festival, and the third year we've gone. We have taken the kids to all the performances, and have enjoyed them all very much.
This year we saw Out of Balanz' Next Door, and Y2D Productions' LEO. The first, Next Door, was a blend of personal memories, shared stories, and movement. It was a two man show, with Troels Findsen, from Denmark, acting as Ivan, and Marc Gassot, from Finland, acting as all the other characters. Findsen did all the narrating, while Gassot said almost nothing. In the Q&A following the show, when asked how that choice came about, Gassot said, "He likes to talk and like to move, so it was a natural choice." The show is about borders and interactions with people. When Ivan Hansen's neighbor dies, Ivan suddenly realizes he didn't even know him. Puzzled by knowing nothing about the man he had lived next to for so many years, Ivan begins to wonder what exactly it is that joins people together. Ivan tells stories of his childhood, his family and friends, and what it was like growing up in Copenhagen. They talked about how 100 years ago they almost certainly wouldn't have know each other, and 1,000 years ago, if they had met, it likely would have been on the battlefield and they would have been enemies. It is a very low-fi, physical play, but super engaging to the audience. The set was minimal--two chairs, some cardboard boxes, and props--but the stories were wonderfully told with lots of detail and wonderful acting. At the end, a new neighbor is moving into the apartment across the hall, and Ivan goes over to say hello. He also said that growing up, when someone moved into the neighborhood, his mother would always invite them over for a fruit juice so they could get to know each other. Then they offered juice to all the audience members so we could meet each other and become friends. It was really a delightful and thoughtful performance and the kids enjoyed it as much as Kent and I. All the pictures are by Alex Brenner. I need to give him credit.
Super Ivan
Using a Lego as "Super Ivan" to turn back time.
Ivan told the story of being pushed out to sea in a rowboat with his friend during a storm.
Their small boat was filled with water as the waves dashed about them.
They were rescued by fishermen.
Meeting a new friend who shared his gum.
"Ivan" blew a bubble.
"Marc" tried to blow one but instead spit out his gum on the ground.
He picked it up and put it back in his mouth!
Two friends feverishly riding their bikes.
They were moving their legs incredibly fast!
I think this sums it up nicely, without really explaining what happened. The stage had a small set with a large screen next to it. The actor, Julian Schulz, was doing all sorts of physical things on the set, and a projection of his actions was then shown on the screen. Thing was, the screen projection was turned 90 degrees. What you saw on the screen looked impossible, as you can see from the pictures. A handstand on the stage set looked like the actor was pushed up against a wall with his feet in the air. It was very disorienting and really amusing at the same time. Schulz in incredibly athletic; even though he wasn't doing a horizontal handstand, he still did lots of amazingly physical stances to create the illusions. Again, we thought it was a great performance, but we didn't stay for the Q&A so I have no "behind the scenes" information to share. The photos--projections on the left, stage performance on the right--are all by Andy Phillipson.
No comments:
Post a Comment