Mummenschanz was founded in Paris more than fifty years ago by, Swiss Born Floriana Frassetto, Andres Bossard, and Bernie Schürch. Today only Floriana Frassetto remains as Artistic Director and veteran performer with her company of four accomplished artists. On Saturday afternoon Nov. 2nd, The Soraya presented this family friendly show to a packed house of happy theater goers, including many excited children.
Because this is an anniversary, Director Frassetto has devised a show that acknowledges its history by bringing many of the most revered characters and routines back to the stage. Mime-Mask Theater is as close of a description one can come to in trying to describe what it is that makes Mummenschanz unique.
Members of Mummenschanz perform “Toilet Paper Faces” at The Soraya on Nov. 2, 2024. | Photo: Braden Villanueva, The Soraya
To open the show two gigantic white gloved hands, pull back the curtain and greet the delighted audience. This is just the beginning of approximately thirty short vignettes/scenes and is indicative of the humor and inventiveness yet to come in this weird and wonderful show.
Fusing strange and often wacky beings with humor and pathos we relate to these characters even if it is clear that it is a person dressed in black with rolls of toilet paper attached to their head. Or perhaps it’s an orange blob that wobbles onstage and develops into a sympathetic face. Silliness is on display when two inflated balloon people meet onstage and appear to be engaging in a Sumo match until one of them loses their head and we watch as it floats into the flies.
Mummenschanz performs an interactive piece at The Soraya on Nov. 2, 2024, at times sending the red ball into the audience for them to push back to the stage. | Photo: Braden Villanueva, The Soraya
One after the other these costume/prop performers bring a seemingly endless stream of clever and sometimes poignant sketches. The black-light sea horse ballet which morphs into lovely swans, or the whimsical wind catching faces, one pink one blue moving toward each other and away in what might be a love story or at least a flirtation. And of course, there are the living slinkies/pipes that toss a balloon back and forth and into the audience. And there are the plug-heads one male one female that manage to find each other and “plug-in.” Giving a nod to technology there is a spot-on bit that draws on the incessant use of cell phones, laptops and iPads that is relevant to all, as we are instructed to turn off our devices in this and any theater. The now classic “Clay Masks” was also featured.
Mummenschanz at The Soraya on Nov. 2, 2024. (2) | Photo: Braden Villanueva, The Soraya
Everything presented was interesting and inventive but not all was necessary in this overly long show. Because it is a perfect afternoon for families with children, judicious editing would be beneficial in order to cut out the redundancy and keep the crowd ready for more. At this length the audience, especially the children, became restless. Music too was sorely missed. Many of these scenes would soar into another realm if scored in some manner. A gentle theme, humorous sound effects and a romantic melody or two might bring a good show to greatness.
Mummenschanz’s 50 Year Tour – Photo courtesy of Mummenschanz.
Still the show has much to offer and I would recommend seeing them next time they appear near you as physical theater and expert mime might one day become obsolete. If Mummenschanz has anything to “mime” about it, that will never happen.
Bring the whole family and enjoy.
The truly skilled performers were, founding member Floriana Frassetto, still performing vigorously at 74, Tess Burla, Christa Barrett, Oliver Pflug and Samuel Muller.
For more information about Mummenschanz, please visit their website.
To learn more about The Soraya, please visit their website.
Written by Tam Warner for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image – Mummenschanz’s 50 Year Tour – Photo courtesy of Mummenschanz.
