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sabotabbyWent to see The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic at Luminato last night. It was spectacular—by which I mean that it was incredibly well done, but also that it was a spectacle. As in it had three Dobermans and a giant boa constrictor as part of the staging. And a giant, sparkly hammer and sickle. Much more accessible than Abramovic's actual work, as well as the last Robert Wilson piece I saw (Einstein on the Beach, at last year's Luminato), but very much compelling, engrossing art.
The piece, which is about three hours long, is a litany of childhood abuses and self-hatred, various anecdotes from Abramovic's life depicted as bleak little fairy tale tableaux. Music by Antony (dressed as Abramovic in a rather stunning black dress) added to the surreal, dreamlike atmosphere.
The staging reminded me a great deal of The Black Rider—also by Wilson and probably my favourite musical for reasons that are obvious—strongly influenced by German Expressionism and clown, highly stylized, and treating its darker elements (and it's all dark) as slapstick comedy that saves the piece from what might otherwise have been self-indulgent autobiography.
Willem Dafoe, as the narrator, was the standout for me; the Guardian described his performance as "an orange mullet and heavy pan-stick makeup that puts you in mind of Batman's the Joker MC-ing a Berlin cabaret." I was thinking Tom Waits meets Joel Grey, but regardless, it's a good look for him, and he's got an even more compelling presence on stage than he does on film. Abramovic, playing herself and her abusive mother, was of course amazing.
Not sure how they're going to top this one next year. More Wilson? I don't know. Hopefully more Wilson; I really love his work.
Incidentally, the Honourable Wife-Beating, Drunk-Driving, Bird-Flipping, Crack-Smoking, Possibly Murderous Mayor voted against funding for Luminato and other cultural events that bring both money and awesomeness to the city. With all of the destruction and dead bodies piling up in the wake of the crack video scandal, it's important to remember that he's also a shitty mayor who wants to take away all of the things that make this city great.
The piece, which is about three hours long, is a litany of childhood abuses and self-hatred, various anecdotes from Abramovic's life depicted as bleak little fairy tale tableaux. Music by Antony (dressed as Abramovic in a rather stunning black dress) added to the surreal, dreamlike atmosphere.
The staging reminded me a great deal of The Black Rider—also by Wilson and probably my favourite musical for reasons that are obvious—strongly influenced by German Expressionism and clown, highly stylized, and treating its darker elements (and it's all dark) as slapstick comedy that saves the piece from what might otherwise have been self-indulgent autobiography.
Willem Dafoe, as the narrator, was the standout for me; the Guardian described his performance as "an orange mullet and heavy pan-stick makeup that puts you in mind of Batman's the Joker MC-ing a Berlin cabaret." I was thinking Tom Waits meets Joel Grey, but regardless, it's a good look for him, and he's got an even more compelling presence on stage than he does on film. Abramovic, playing herself and her abusive mother, was of course amazing.
Not sure how they're going to top this one next year. More Wilson? I don't know. Hopefully more Wilson; I really love his work.
Incidentally, the Honourable Wife-Beating, Drunk-Driving, Bird-Flipping, Crack-Smoking, Possibly Murderous Mayor voted against funding for Luminato and other cultural events that bring both money and awesomeness to the city. With all of the destruction and dead bodies piling up in the wake of the crack video scandal, it's important to remember that he's also a shitty mayor who wants to take away all of the things that make this city great.
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Date: 2013-06-15 10:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-06-16 02:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-06-16 03:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-06-16 03:35 pm (UTC)I loved the staging a lot.
*: I originally wanted to go to NYC to see The Artist is Present but in the end I'm glad I didn't...
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Date: 2013-06-16 03:52 pm (UTC)