As I read ‘Bursting the Grape’, the chorus of Satyr’s really grabbed my attention. Hearing them illustrated with such detail by their costuming and the total surrender of the actors to them really made them stand out as interests.
The Satyr's seem like my dream role of Greek Theatre. Reading about them I was excited to hear what chaotic thing would inhabit them next, and I found myself wanting to hear what it was like for the actors in those roles. Holy cats they sound fun! The physicality, dialogue (The bit about the steak and the plum made me laugh) and the mask work all really intrigued me.
I think my favourite quote front he article was, "Knutton says the satyr masks were among the most effective masks he has ever used in performance as they completely transformed the wearers into misbehaving, chaotic beings, while admitting that this was a double-edged sword, as they were occasionally difficult to control in rehearsal."
I decided since the masks were making me think so much, they should be what I go research!
The big word that keeps popping up is the word ‘intense’ when referencing masks, usually when they are talking about their look. They have a very intense way about them, very fixed. I started wondering if this had a mental affect on an actor wearing a piece like this, in my head comparing it to when actors say things like when they put on a certain part of the costume, the character is fully realized for them (i.e. Jason Isaacs putting on his Lucius Malfoy wig) Not long after thinking this I read a passage in the article I was reading that summed up my thoughts!
“The entire construction of the mask leads the actor towards a state of increased energy and presence, during which the actor senses the experience of a bodily and vocal expansion—a state of communication.”
http://www.didaskalia.net/issues/vol7no1/vovolis_zamboulakis.html
I totally think the fact that the satyr chorus members lost control is super cool, not to sound too much like a 13 year old. The fact that they could immediately relate to something created SO long ago is really interesting. Its kinda like Greek theatre transcends eras. (insert x-files music here.)
ReplyDeleteI think that it's really cool that the actors felt a connection with the character after putting on the masks. Of course, it would be their own interpritation of the character, but that's what makes theatre interesting!
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