To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Date: Sat, 13 May 2006 00:59:06 -0400
Subject: [Puptcrit] Soma International's Cabaret Decadanse


Hi all.
Tonight I finally saw Cabaret Decadanse, from the company Soma International.
I had seen a few excerpts, presented in various special events, but this time, I was treated to a pair of tickets, by the organisers of the micro festival (where I gave a conference).

I had a great evening!
The show is presented simulataneously in three languages: French, English, and Spanish (the MC speaks in a jumble of the languages, and the songs are either one of these languages.)
Mostly a visual and musical show anyway.

The puppets are marvelous, they move amazingly well, and that is absolutely the result of the great manipulating skills of the dancers-puppeteers.

At first, hearing the descriptions, I thought it would be like a lip-sync-ing puppet show, but that is only part of tools they use to make the show. And what a show! Nothing cliché or cheesy about it (contrary to my first suspiscions. I've always bee weary of lip-sincing, because I could not see it as a valid tool (boy was I blind!).

The main part is the movement, the expressive dance of the puppet, the interaction and fusion of the puppeteer to the puppet. At some points, the puppets ends up with an extra hand, or different pairs of feet, or an entirely new body.  Everything is choregraphed and timed magically, yet it all sems so spontaneous! A Great variety of shapes and characters makes it all so colorful. You're not sure what's coming up next, and you hope it's not the last number, at the end of every number! 

Lots of humour.
The crowd was VERY happy.
I know I was.

Make sure to check out their new show when it comes out.
Again, the company's name is Soma International. Their website is:
http://www.soma-international.com/

They tour Worldwide. The info should be available soon, if not already.
I'm told it is going to be even bigger than the first. Yikes!

The show's name has the word Umano in it, I was told by one of the puppeteers.
I know a few people who are working on building the puppets these days. Among them are possibly the three best puppet builders in Quebec. Knowing their advanced skills, I can already dream of the possibilities. If I get the official info on the new show before it is posted on their own site, I'll pass it on.






Mathieu René Créaturiste
Marionnettes, Masques, Etcetera...
Puppets, Masks, Etcetera...
www.creaturiste.com
creaturiste-AT-magma.ca
(514) 274-8027
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