Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 10:49:58 -0800
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: [Puptcrit] Love of performing thread.


to all of us Puppeteers,I just saw an unbelievable -- a real "adult" show on
Melrose in LA last night. There were only about 30 people in the audience.
Lucky people.I had a "freebie", and almost didn't attend the show... mainly
because it was performed by a Ventriloquist. In and of itself I don't mind
that distinction, except for the
fact that that distinction points to a technique that I don't associate with
good theatre, good drama, or good anything... to tell you the truth. (just
being honest- not diplomatic here).
     But this show proved that my preconceived gut feeling couldn't have
been farther from the truth. Some of you know how ultra critical I can be of
my the work and other's work so this may come as a surprise, but I LOVED
THIS SHOW. And the show couldn't have been performed by anyone else than a
ventriloquist. But not any ventriolquist, one who is fine actor too.  (By
the way, I saw the film, the Dummy, with Adrien Brody playing a depressed
Vent.- I liked that movie too).
The show I saw was called DUALITY-- a Psychological Comedy written and
directed by Steve Altman, and performed by David Strassman (think it will
play thru end Dec-only on Mon-Tues.-Wed nites (the off-nights) at the
Matrix).
The content was the dialogue between one actor and his Puppet that went from
one profound truth to another while in a waiting room of a Psychiatrist's
office.
I think the show will get to New York, and London, I urge all the Puppeteers
in the world to see it somehow. The Festivals should pay big bucks to get
this modest show on their stages. It is exquisite theatre while speaking
about the depth of the psychological rivers that run under the surface of
most of us Puppeteers-- some of us are aware of these forces and use them
for laughs but this show went way beyond that kind of light-hearted
self-deprecating humor.
I felt like the show was reading my mind and my life and making me laugh
(and not cry) throughout. I was mesmerized by a totally text -based theatre.
Wow. Didn't think that could happen.
A true virtuoso performance by Strassman and a big bravo to the Theatre gods
(the Producers) for allowing the show to materialized as it has.

-Steven Ritz-Barr

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