| There was the scantily clad teenage Queen of Egypt dancing with Julius Caesar, the famous piano player from New York, Jimmy the hairdresser trapped in someone else’s dream, Barry the used car salesman-turned-messiah, and a crowd of freaks celebrating Frank Zappa.
It’s amazing how many memorable people you meet every year at One Yellow Rabbit's High Performance Rodeo. This year’s orgy of experimental performance introduced us to a collection of unforgettable characters and drew record-breaking crowds.
The Rodeo has certainly grown up from its early days, when Rabbits Andy Curtis and Michael Green played Siamese twins, and a cursing naked man threw playing cards across the stage. This year's Rodeo featured quite a few polished, professional shows from all around the globe – selecting a few highlights and offering advice for the next Rodeo is almost impossible, but here goes:
HIGHLIGHTS
· Biggest thrill: Compagnie Marie Chouinard's reinvention of dance with 24 Preludes by Chopin, followed by the stunning Le Cri du Monde.
· Guilty Pleasure: The joyous ultrafreak psychedelia of all things Zappa in We're Only In It for the Money.
· Biggest surprise: that four dancers could fill an hour with so much energy in 24X Caprices by Manon Fait De La Danse.
·Most intriguing character: Marie Brassard’s Jimmy, a homosexual New York hairdresser stuck in the body of a woman and trapped in the dream of the actress who created him.
· Longest two hours: Beautiful Jew.
· Biggest embarrassment: Karen Finley desperately trying to be controversial in The Distribution of Empathy.
TIPS FOR 2004
· Buy a Rodeo Pass early. It’s the best deal in town and gets you in to see as many shows as you want.
· Put these must-see shows on your calendar now: the opening night show, Ground Zero Theatre’s Ten Minute Play Festival, and the closing night cabaret and party.
· Don’t miss the dance shows. |
