David Shiner

Hey guys,
This ins't in response to omen's posting (though i do want to respond). This is a clip of David Shiner (i believe he is barnum and baily trained). He did a two person show with Bill Irwin called Paper Moon (or Fool Moon). It played on broadway. Anyway, here is a link to a peformance of his:

David Shiner Silent Movie

i particularly like the use of music and the use of the audience. This type of audience interaction really seems to excite the audience.

Reflections!

Unfortunately, what with the Apprentice Showcase fast approaching, I haven't done any new research. But I just wanted to take a second and reflect on the two videos you posted - the Homesickness Song and Dario Fo.

One quick thing - I think the Homesickness Song is Doug Skinner, not Bill Irwin.

First. Dario Fo.

So many things to be said, so I'm just going to rattle off the first few that come to mind. This is definitely a conversation to expand on and revisit.

The moment when the bottom drops out and he realizes that the giant feast he's prepared and enjoyed is a fantasy. Astonishing. I love the dynamic of going going going laughing high energy and then BAM, the rug gets ripped out. Chaplin does this too. All of a sudden I'm just crying.

His physicality is so specific and nonspecific. Nothing is indicated, or clearly pantomimed, but I was never unsure of what was going on. Part of what I love about physical theater (even more so non-English theater) is the interpretive nature of it. The picture was clear for him, and clear for me, but I'm certain that what I saw is different than what you see is different from what Fo sees...and all are accurate. It allows the audience to bring their own experience to the piece. Instead of "I'm pantomiming X and saying Y and you, audience, need to figure that out," we fill it in for ourselves - and the moments that NEED to be super specific (i.e. the fly), are. The rest, he invites us to flesh out for ourselves. So intimate. Allowed me to have the experience along with him, rather than just watching him have the experience.

Doug Skinner.

The dynamic between the sadness and the comedy. Again, as with Fo. The dark with the light. It almost seemed like the audience laughter was a product of not knowing what else to do...that there was some surge of emotion, but they weren't quite sure how to channel it.

I love this stillness of this piece, as contrasted with the frenzy of Fo's.

Those glasses. Those. Glasses.

In other news, I assistant taught with a fantastic man named Jonathan Becker at Cherubs, who is a BRILLIANT physical performer. Just brilliant. And he has a commedia mask making company, which is just badass. When apprentice frenzy ends, I'll shoot him an email. He'd be a fantastic resource for us as well. So add another to the list and keep shakin' that stick!

Love

J

A couple of more Y0u Tube Videos:  The first, the famous "Hunger of Zanni" lazzo here performed by Dario Fo.  Zanni, a starving servant, a prefiguration of the commedia "Arlecchino" is starving and debates eating (or eats) himself, and the world around him.  He gets so caught up in his fantasy that he imagines making a huge dinner, only realizing after he has eaten it that it has all been a dream.  He then eats a fly.

Dario Fo: The Hunger of Zanni

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCm9IApf1rA&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eartemotore%2Ecom%2Fvideo%2Findex%2Easp%3Fv%3D130&feature=player_embedded

Next Bill Irwin singing a song.

Bill Irwin - Section from In regard of Flight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP0CbNE0WnQ&NR=1

We have more resources than you could shake a stick at!

One of the very most exciting things about this project is the number of amazing resources that we have at our disposal. I'd like to inlist the help and advice of commedia and mime expert Mace Perlman, who was our Baptista in Shrew here at STONC. I know he has a great deal of historical and literary research at his disposal, as well as being one of the best mask performers I've ever seen. He's also a wonderfully sweet man and hugely kind. I think he would be a great asset to this project.

He just left for a trip to Italy, but I shall email him and see if he's interested (I know he will be). Perhaps we can send hm video clips as we develop material.

Hurrah!!!

Thanks for posting the Chaplin video. Also, since you'll beat me to Chi-city, you can raid my Chaplin collection in the storage unit.

So much love.

Omen.

impossible, yes, so let's get to work

And work we shall!

Meet the blog, a central location for musings, inspirations, things-to-be-shared, etc. To begin, a little inspiration:

Charlie Chaplin in The Immigrant

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

I can't wait! Also, I love being involved in a project where I get to watch Charlie Chaplin movies as work. Helloooo, dream job.

Much love,

J.