5 reasons why this show is a work of total genius: 1) Using modern stage magic in The Tempest - its the perfect analogue for the original stage context of this show: particular Penn & Tellers style of magic - how theyre constantly drawing attention to how constructed it is but it doesnt stop it being spectacular to watch. 2) The circus setting/conceit. I mean - again, its like someone went Hey, lets look at all the ways the Renaissance tradition of stage spectacle still exists in contemporary culture. AND BOOM. THEY PUT IT IN THE ONE SHOW. 3) Caliban played by two dancers stuck together like deformed twins - oh this is so genius I cant even get into it. Its so easy to see how you could divide his lines to create a kind of Jekyll/Hyde internal conflict with that character. And also conjoined twins harks back to the carnival freak tradition of the stage monster - just genius. 4) A LIVE BAND PLAYING TOM WAITS. Okay so - it goes without saying that Tom Waits is probably the perfect soundtrack for this show, as he has WHOLE ALBUMS that are centred around circus mythos/monstrosity/phantasm and the literal enactment of magic. And also his music is so innately and self-consciously performative and jarring and rhythmic and sinister, it makes so much sense to do it live - and use it to incorporate live dance. Which leads me to: 5) Pilobolus Dance Company - oh man. Go have a look at the work that this company does. Its like what youd get if you asked a contemporary dance company to create routines inspired by Elliot Goldenthals score for the Tempest. In fact, its pretty much LITERALLY THAT. And with an added interest in symbiosis and biology to boot.. The choice to have them as the creatures of the island is freaking inspired. Like actually better than Taymors faeries in her recent MND. - Also every way Teller justifies his directorial choices and how he personally relates to Prospero. Hes amazing. Okay - theatre rant done. I just need you to understand that I want to see this show more than I want to eat/sleep/breathe.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 23:13:31 +0000
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