Review: Bread & Puppet Theater "Tear Open the Door of Heaven"
http://www.openmediaboston.org/node/1125
by Ana Traynin
Jan-30-10
With a promise of puppets, dancing, political subversion and free
bread, Bread & Puppet Theater's fourth annual installment of their
Boston residency attracted a crowd Friday, the second night of the
"Tear Open the Door of Heaven" performance. Audience members braved
the cold to come out to The Cyclorama building, part of the Boston
Center for the Arts in the South End, which proves to be a perfect
venue for the visually arresting style of this Glover, VT based
theater troupe. "Tear Open the Door of Heaven" packs a punch into an
hour-and-a-half long piece, charged with director Peter Schumann's
stark anti-war message and his anti-elitist, community approach to
creating art. It leaves one with an equal amount of despair and inspiration.
The troupe has gathered an impressively large number of local
volunteers of all ages to form the Lubberland National Dance Company,
a reflection of Bread & Puppet's popularity and support in the Boston
area. At the same time, there is something slightly unnerving about
the sight of people dressed all alike, performing in step. Yet this
mix of professional and amateur dancers helps give the piece its
unique quality a deep engagement with the audience. Instead of
sitting back and being entertained, they are forced to pay attention
as their fellow community members jump, yell, clap and make music in
an implicit rejection of the commercial nature of theater and dance.
The Somerville-based Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society
Brass Band starts off with a spirited introductory performance under
the Dirt Cheap Money Circus banner. Breaking the celebration,
Schumann abruptly turns the audience's attention to the other side of
the room, with the "Prolog : Situation." A cardboard figure hanging
on the wall reads "War Walks Over Their Heads Death Tortures Them,"
setting a somber tone for the rest of the evening. Schumann chooses
to focus the anti-war symbolism on the aftermath of last winter's
Gaza attacks, with cardboard baby figures and others geared
specifically towards this tragedy. While at times heavy-handed, it
brings up an ongoing situation nearly forgotten by the media.
The six acts and accompanying dance "interventions" of "Tear Open the
Door of Heaven" shine a theatrical light on pressing current issues.
Besides the Gazan plight, they target environmental destruction and
the negative impact of religious indoctrination. This latter theme is
far less clear-cut, weaving itself sporadically throughout the piece
as the performers are called "The Practitioners of the Brand New
Paper Mache Religion," Schumann's version of a disposable religion.
The centerpiece of the stage consists of a puppet stage, which hosts
troupe members disguised by large masks expanding on the idea of
reaching "behind closed doors" to get to the truth hidden by the spin
of religion and politics.
The first part of the piece delivers a string of laughs, from the odd
"forest admiration dance" to the destruction of mountaintop removal
machines. However, the performance takes a particularly dark turn
during the middle third and fourth acts, when three troupe members
wearing large masks and headscarves to represent Palestinian mothers
unfurl a white banner with the names of children who died in Gaza
haphazardly painted in black. This jolting visual portrayal, followed
by the simulation of the children's deaths and the "Dance of the
Foolish Woman" to bring them back to life, really drives home the
continued impact of the attacks. Again, the approach is a bit of a
shock tactic, yet Schumann's eartnestness and creativity and of the
course the stunning puppets - holds it together.
The last two acts, "Stargazers & Money Artists," and "Serious Window"
inject humor back into the performance, including a wonderful
satirical take on the media in this case, NPR trying helplessly
to get to the "meaning" of this artistry. The piece culminates in a
highly musical and vocal celebration of the newfound Paper Mache
Religion. While not offering any solutions to the problems it
presents, "Tear Open The Door of Heaven" uses an innovative mix of
darkness and humor to get its points across and its challenging
complexity deserves a continued respect.
Unlike other theater performances, where most people get up and leave
the minute the lights are back on, the troupe encourages audience
members to stay and interact, partake in their signature sourdough
bread, look at Schumann's art installation, or purchase one of the
many "cheap art" pieces on display. The entire concept of bringing
the community into the art-making process is perhaps Bread & Puppet's
strongest point and the key to its ongoing success.
Additional weekend performances include "Tear Open the Door of
Heaven" Saturday, January 30 and Sunday, January 31 at 7 p.m. and the
family-friendly "Dirt Cheap Money Circus" at 4 p.m. on both days.
.
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