Once Upon a
Mime
Sundog Theatre delves into new territory
once again with its presentation of
Once Upon a Mime, a
90-minute original mime and mask show that
incorporates humor, drama, satire, human
nature, and contemporary issues as its
subjects. The show joins wordless
communication with the story of two
peoples’ lives. Sundog artistic director
and professional mime Susan Fenley will
direct mimes from the Staten Island/New
York area in this four-person show. The
show will premiere at the intimate 99-seat
Wagner College Theatre’s Stage One in
Grymes Hill, Staten Island.
Using elements and techniques from distinguished mime/movement artists Marcel Marceau, Etienne Decroux, Charlie Chaplin, and Buster Keaton, Once Upon a Mime will present mime vignettes to musical accompaniment. With its known roots in Greek theatre and commedia dell’arte, mime and movement-based communication have been ways of communing silently for centuries. No matter the ethnicity or spoken language, mime is a universal expression.
“Mime brings out the subtler moments,” says director Susan Fenley. “In Once Upon a Mime we take ordinary situations and make them extraordinary and entertaining.” Additionally, by using mask work, actors transform themselves, often astonishingly, into other characters.
“This is not your typical street mime. The show will not be done in whiteface. And while adults will be able to appreciate the underlying themes, young people will enjoy the physical spectacle and humor,” Ms. Fenley continues.
Sundog’s artistic director, Susan Fenley, is a professional mime who has performed throughout the country and has
taught mime at Wagner College, at
Paper Mill Theatre in New Jersey, and at
the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in
California. Mime Nancy Lyon studied with
Marcel Marceau and assisted him in seminars
across Europe and the U.S. She has
performed at venues from Lincoln Center,
the Bindlestiff Family Circus, and Disney
to the Festival d’Avignon in France and a
national tour of the Netherlands, among
many others. Mime/clown Brian Harger has
appeared in circuses and carnivals across
the U.S. as well as on the Today Show,
Southstreet Seaport, and commercials for
Virgin Mobile.
Once Upon a Mime performances are January 19 through 28, Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM and Sundays at 3PM.
This show is made possible in part with funding from SI Bank & Trust Foundation, the Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island, and the NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs.
Writer: Susan Fenley, with contributions from the cast
Director: Susan Fenley
Lighting: Bob Elia
Costumes: Linda Koenig
Using elements and techniques from distinguished mime/movement artists Marcel Marceau, Etienne Decroux, Charlie Chaplin, and Buster Keaton, Once Upon a Mime will present mime vignettes to musical accompaniment. With its known roots in Greek theatre and commedia dell’arte, mime and movement-based communication have been ways of communing silently for centuries. No matter the ethnicity or spoken language, mime is a universal expression.
“Mime brings out the subtler moments,” says director Susan Fenley. “In Once Upon a Mime we take ordinary situations and make them extraordinary and entertaining.” Additionally, by using mask work, actors transform themselves, often astonishingly, into other characters.
“This is not your typical street mime. The show will not be done in whiteface. And while adults will be able to appreciate the underlying themes, young people will enjoy the physical spectacle and humor,” Ms. Fenley continues.
Sundog’s artistic director, Susan Fenley, is a professional mime who has performed throughout the country and has
Once Upon a Mime performances are January 19 through 28, Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM and Sundays at 3PM.
This show is made possible in part with funding from SI Bank & Trust Foundation, the Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island, and the NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs.
Writer: Susan Fenley, with contributions from the cast
Director: Susan Fenley
Lighting: Bob Elia
Costumes: Linda Koenig
Brian Harger & Nancy Lyon (photo: Jan Somma-Hammell)
Whitney
G-Bowley & Susan Fenley
ONCE UPON A MIME:
Without words, 'Mime' still tells a complete story
Friday, January 26, 2007
By LISA ANN WILLIAMSON
ADVANCE STAFF WRITER
Susan Fenley didn't have to search for the perfect words.
She sought expressions, feelings and movement to convey meaning in her play.
Ms. Fenley, executive and artistic director of Sundog Theatre, wrote, conceived and directed "Once Upon A Mime" which opened last week at Wagner College's Stage One. The play, which "tells" the story of two people -- He and She -- who grow up and find love in each other, continues this weekend.
For 90 minutes, there were no spoken words but the story was relayed in beautiful, often hilarious scenes accompanied by recorded instrumental music. Some melodies are familiar like the Ukrainian "Carol of the Bells" or even Aaron Copland's "Hoe Down" from "Rodeo." Others are well-chosen to magnify the feeling of the scene.
Fenley constructs a story of life's highlights from carefree childhood to career and dating disasters, parental joys and dismays, and aging. Lighting designer Bob Elia makes a display of snowflakes on stage in the beginning scenes. The four-member cast, including Fenley, becomes a variety of characters to tell the love story in a wonderfully creative use of movement and space. Sometimes they are in black masks, sometimes in flesh-colored masks with little hints of facial features.
This is more than just the trapped-in-an-invisible-box mime. This show has substance and depth.
Nancy Lyon is incredibly fun to watch as She. Her most vivid scene is "She Wants" a visual fantasy of her search for love in which she is wooed and courted by her dream man. Ms. Lyon, a professional mime, dancer and choreographer, also becomes a life-sized music box doll in the dream sequence and studied with the master artist of silence, Marcel Marceau. Brian Harger is He, who dreams of being a race car driver, a cowboy, Zorro and a baseball star but instead has to make the hectic morning commute to his Manhattan office. Ms. Fenley and Whitney Ryin G-Bowley round out the cast.
Each scene is introduced with a white story board with the title written in bold black letters. And the audience gets to add their imagination to the details of the story to come up with what exactly He does for a living and what kind of artist She is.
In the end, this is an enjoyable evening of theater in unique and professional display. And while no words are spoken except in the opening announcements, the communication is complete.
Performances are 8 p.m. tonight and tomorrow with a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday. Stage One is located adjacent to the Wagner College Athletic Stadium. Tickets are $15 for general admission with a discount for students and seniors. For reservations or additional information, call 718-816-5453 or visit www.sundogtheatre.org.
© 2007 Staten Island Advance
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