The first show of the day Ping Pang Qiu was created and performed by Angelica Liddell. The cast included only three other performers and a dog. The piece was set in a local Avignon high school gym, the set consisted of a ping pong table, a few chairs, and the props that would later be introduced throughout the performance. The costuming for each performer was incredibly unique and stylized. Liddell was dress in a tight-fitting red dress and electric blue wig. The other performers wore stylized military uniforms and the performer escorting the canine actor casually walked around in a big bird suit. The show was performed in Spanish with a few other languages mixed in, so many of our students could not verbally understand what the monologues were but Liddell created extremely powerful imagery throughout the entire performance. To the audience's surprise one point in the show two performers began burning a book only to be even more surprised by the "grand finale" in which the cast joined together and began shedding some of their clothing for the microwave noodle feast. The cast ate this mound of noodles together and began throwing them at the audience. This humours action was balanced by this powerful image being displayed by a projector behind the cast.
Liddell's show was powerful and ironic here is a link to more about her and her work. Angelica Liddell
The next performance was two shows in one. First, the audience was shown into a remarkable courtyard space with the performers already in place. Garden Party, by Amber Kahan, was the first show we were going to see, and this is how it began:
We took our seats as the performers, Duncan Evennou, Karine Piveteau, watched us with a inquisitive expression waiting patiently for the audience to be ready. Dressed in a romantic, elaborate dress and pointe shoes Karine Piveteau began the piece moving towards a standing microphone. Duncan Evennou emerged slowly from behind the tree that was firmly planted through the stage. He crept towards his own standing microphone. Each performer watched the other cautiously with a flirtatiously nervous personality. They continued to inch around the space getting closer to each other, moving awkwardly. The performance took a drastic turn as each their nervousness transformed into a passionate run. Piveteau began singing/screaming into the microphone as Evennou ran around the stage in his clunky boots seemingly expressing extreme happiness. Each performer was extremely committed and passionate about every word or movement they did. The piece was very careful and energetic. Creator Amber Kahan left an amazingly inspiring atmosphere for the next show to take place.
Work Through was designed, interpreted, and performed by Dissez Vincent and Pauline Simon. Dressed in stylized royal court outfits the dancers entered the space with regal posture. The music selection was not in accordance with the 18th century style wardrobe, rather, it was current and pulsing. The movement progressed as if the dancers had a job to do, with somber faces but humorous gestures the piece had a variety of moods. The creators had this to say about the piece, "We went in a blank space as a garden, at this meeting, the inconvenience, this sentence André Breton:" Today, I do not expect anything as my only availability, as this thirst to roam to meet all of which I make it keeps me mysterious communication with other beings available."
The last performance of the day came from Angelica Liddell, who we had seen earlier in the day. She again performed and created the work. The piece was an elaborate, theatrical production with a plethora of costumes, props, dancers, scene changes, music, and even a live orchestra. The performance followed a plot similar to Peter Pan but with a few vastly different, not to mention dark, details. With two Wendy's, one played by Angelica and the other played by a long time cast member of her work, a stylized Peter Pan, and more than one additional character not in the original story Liddell's work was nothing short of complicated. To end the piece Liddell performed a monologue of extreme detail and complexity. Her energy and exhaustion forced every member of the audience to feel the deep connection she had to the concept of this work. For more information about the piece and Liddell herself follow this link. Angelica Liddell: Todo Sobre la Tierra el cielo
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