above: Re-Animation Photo: Teatr Pinokio
Review by Jo Tomalin
Enchanting Puppetry
At 11:00 The Sunset play is about an elderly lady sitting at home thinking about her life. The beautifully sculpted head and her small frame are sensitively manipulated by two puppeteers wearing black clothing, so they are unseen. Behind a large glass window we are looking into her home, and miniature black and white videos play on tiny screens. It’s a delicate and beautiful silent memory story accompanied by gentle guitar music.
The Metaphysical Caravan
15:00 Re-Animation is based on body puppetry. A young woman is in bed and she has a bandaged foot. As the lighting changes mysterious things happen. It is a humorous piece showing how puppetry can be so simple and effective to communicate thoughts, ideas and emotions. A short optional workshop about the unusual body puppetry technique is offered immediately after the show by the puppeteer.
The Metaphysical Caravan’s mobile theatre holds about a dozen audience members at most on real theatre seating from an old theatre in Poland. All of these shows are short and disarmingly simple…as well as…charming, fascinating, intriguing, plus created and performed with care and heart by the accomplished puppeteers. The Metaphysical Caravan is a unique and special theatrical experience. So go and find the caravan before it returns to Poland! It’s’s tucked away, parked towards the back of the courtyard at Summerhall.
More Information:
Jo Tomalin, Ph.D. reviews Dance, Theatre & Physical Theatre Performances
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Jo Tomalin studied with Jacques Lecoq in Paris. She completed the two year professional course at Ecole Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq, Paris, France, where she also completed the Laboratoire du Mouvement (LEM) scenography, mask and movement course.
Originally from England, Jo is currently based in San Francisco, where she reviews Theatre & Dance for www.ForAllEvents.com & www.FringeReview.co.uk. She is a Professor in the School of Theatre & Dance at San Francisco State University where she teaches performance subjects and directs MainStage plays. She also works in the performing arts field as a freelance movement & voice specialist, director + actor. Jo’s play “Jessica” which she also directed was produced at the Fringe of Marin – a One Act New Play Festival in Northern California.
Jo Tomalin graduated with a degree from London University’s Laban Centre Teaching Credential program in Modern Dance, Art of Movement & Choreography; studied Classical Acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), London; completed a teacher’s diploma (ATCL) in Voice and Acting from Trinity College of Dramatic Art, London; and studied classical ballet for 12 years.
Jo also holds a Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in Instructional Design for Online Learning from Capella University, MN, and a Master of Science degree in Educational Technology from Boise State University in the USA.
