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Marcel Marceau
I saw Marcel Marceau perform this past weekend at the Indiana University Auditorium. I vividly remember seeing him many years ago when I was in grade school. I recall many of the details of the mimes that he presented then, so to see him again after almost thirty years was an interesting event.
The house was about half full, at about two thousand spectators. The audience was very polite and his work was well received. It was interesting to me to note the demographics of the crowd. As is the case of the programs associated with the university, much of the audience was older – of Marceau’s generation. It created a somewhat nostalgic performance as we all sat in amazement that this man was still performing a full show well into his eighties.
I wondered how his perspective on his work has changed as he has aged, and how he had modified different mimes to make them period appropriate. I could see many attitudes and impressions in his images that reminded me of my parent's attitudes.
As I watched the show, I thought about my dad, if for no other reason than he was sitting two rows in front of me laughing his head off! My own father is the same age as Marceau, and he too had a career as a performer, though a concert organist wears less make-up. Dad recently did a full recital at the age of 84, after a fifteen year hiatus. I know that it was difficult for him to embrace the obstacles of his age and that he had to face the reality of his changing physique. Nevertheless, his recital was very well performed, and also well received, but it made me think about changing one's show and one's expectations to coincide with one's age.
Most of us at Marceau’s performance were there to be in the presence of a master, though I must confess, that I was there out of curiosity as much as anything. I wanted to see how a man in his eighties performed something as physical as an entire mime show.
The production was very clean and inspiring – a timeless classic. In spite of a somewhat dubious reputation of late, I enjoy watching classical mime. When done with thought and consideration, it is a very powerful medium. I was greatly impressed at how Marceau’s sharp attention to detail was softened by his style and control. There was no notion that we were being "told" about events or objects as his technique melted away into each story.
The standing ovation and half dozen curtain calls that were given at the end were well deserved. We should all hope that we are half that active in our performing efforts when we are in our eighties!
Steven Ragatz
The house was about half full, at about two thousand spectators. The audience was very polite and his work was well received. It was interesting to me to note the demographics of the crowd. As is the case of the programs associated with the university, much of the audience was older – of Marceau’s generation. It created a somewhat nostalgic performance as we all sat in amazement that this man was still performing a full show well into his eighties.
I wondered how his perspective on his work has changed as he has aged, and how he had modified different mimes to make them period appropriate. I could see many attitudes and impressions in his images that reminded me of my parent's attitudes.
As I watched the show, I thought about my dad, if for no other reason than he was sitting two rows in front of me laughing his head off! My own father is the same age as Marceau, and he too had a career as a performer, though a concert organist wears less make-up. Dad recently did a full recital at the age of 84, after a fifteen year hiatus. I know that it was difficult for him to embrace the obstacles of his age and that he had to face the reality of his changing physique. Nevertheless, his recital was very well performed, and also well received, but it made me think about changing one's show and one's expectations to coincide with one's age.
Most of us at Marceau’s performance were there to be in the presence of a master, though I must confess, that I was there out of curiosity as much as anything. I wanted to see how a man in his eighties performed something as physical as an entire mime show.
The production was very clean and inspiring – a timeless classic. In spite of a somewhat dubious reputation of late, I enjoy watching classical mime. When done with thought and consideration, it is a very powerful medium. I was greatly impressed at how Marceau’s sharp attention to detail was softened by his style and control. There was no notion that we were being "told" about events or objects as his technique melted away into each story.
The standing ovation and half dozen curtain calls that were given at the end were well deserved. We should all hope that we are half that active in our performing efforts when we are in our eighties!
Steven Ragatz
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