Mischa Baka
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mischa
 
mischa

 

July 2004

Darwin Fringe festival

Brown's Mart Theatre

 

This was the first feature show. Its structure was based on the idea that shows can be composed from stylistic, generic and convention changes rather than narrative. It was made up of 18 fragments that experimented with a number of puppet/object styles as well as shifts from symbolism to dance to naturalism etc.

The Darwin show was a great adventure. Transporting all the puppets and props was a spectacle in itself. We filled a dormitory room so full of props that other guests were almost trapped in their bunks. Some puppets accompanied us on the plane as carry on luggage and inspired other travellers to attend the show. It was lovely to have a theatre all to ourselves and we slept one night on the stage. We used glowing puppets to see in the dark and freaked out security at two in the morning.


The audiences were great and many would stay back to talk about what scenes and moments meant to them. This show included the glowing puppet named Kylie for the first time and she happily mesmerized people (see picture).

PRINICPALS DEVISORS/PERFORMERS
Mischa Baka
Lisa Bracken
Michal Imielski


ORIGINAL MUSIC by Michal Imielski

PUPPETS by
Mischa Baka
Agata Imielska
Turoa Walmsley

COSTUMES
Carly Dawson
Grazyna Imielska
Kelly Jong

CREW
Darwin Fringe

Black Velvet and curtains created by Grazyna Imielska

 

 

AUDIENCE RESPONSES 1

I started to feel the central theme was an
interpretation of social values and interactions
between people. Incest, Child abuse, Abuse in
relationships be it Male/Female or Female/Male,
Interracial and Intercultural. I think you also
touched on how society views disabilities.
 
One interesting aspect I found was that after a while
it was almost like a light mist had enveloped the
stage. I took my glasses of and it was gone and I
could only see the costumes. I attribute this to my
glasses have photo sensitive lenses and it would
appear that under UV or black light they react and
take on an almost x-ray vision quality. Just thought I
might share that.





AUDIENCE RESPONSES 2 
   

There was one scene that, while valid in the context of the overall performance, care may need to be taken with how it might be interpreted. I refer to the suffocating of the blue toy with a plastic bag. I noticed several young children in the audience and while, they were enjoying the overall show, they became quite distressed at that part. Adults can generally deal with that issue, young children may not be able to. I was saddened by the way we as humans treat each other and find the need to express anger on objects or others that we can bully or control.

 

 


Copyright 2007 Mischa Baka