Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Review: "One Man, Two Guvnors" in The Arts Fuse

My review of London's National Theatre Live's presentation of Richard Bean's One Man, Two Guvnors a modern adaptation of Carlo Goldoni's The Servant of Two Masters, is up at the The Arts Fuse.

Earlier this summer, I reviewed Shakeapeare and Company's production of Goldoni's The Venetian Twins for The Fuse.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

How I Spent My Summer, Part 1: OpenAir Circus

This was my seventh summer teaching at OpenAir Circus, a youth circus based in Somerville, MA, working with many of the same students, parents and fellow teachers as in previous years, teaching mime and commedia dell'arte.

Maschere e Bottacio
Masks and bottacio (slapstick). Photo by self.

Clown on Tent StakesI have been asked not to do this anymore since I am supposed to be a role model for young clowns. Photo by Victoria Wolfson.

Arlecchino in Clown AlleyDemonstrating the lacing technique on my Arlecchino costume. The design is based on the clothing of late-medieval Italian peasants, before belts, buckles, and buttons were common fasteners. Costume by Cherie Konyha Greene. Photo by Victoria Wolfson.

Commedia dell'OrreryPart of the challenge of this year's theme of "OpenAir Circus in Space" is how to make it work with the commedia dell'arte segment of the show. I opted to have the Dottoressa give a lecture on the solar system with the commedia characters arranged a working model of the planets, essentially a living orrery. Here she is with the sun and the moon. Photo by Victoria Wolfson.

Commedia dell'OrreryRotalinda (either the wife of, or female equivalent of Pulcinella) interupts the Moon in his orbit within the Dottoressa's orrery. Photo by Victoria Wolfson.

Ian Thal,Self-Portrait