When I
see energy and passion in a performer it fills my heart with joy. Sadly it happens only rarely and then more
often than not I’m sitting in the cinema or the theatre. There are very few performers I see in the
street or at open air events who excite much more than a passing academic interest. There are very few who I would watch to the
end of their shows. There are even fewer who I would welcome to join with me on
my stage to explore working together.
Of course there are
exceptions. I wrote last week about
being drawn into the performance of Martin Orbidans at the piano in Ilfracombe and
how his wonderful talent made me invite him to become my accompanist this year. I also want to tell you about the wonderful
talent of another performer who I meet with occasionally and whose passion for
his work, whose skill and expertise in its presentation is remarkable, inspirational and rare. In 2011,
juggler, comedy performer, escapologist, unicyclist and writer Greg Chapman (www.condensedhistories.com) was
looking for a subject for his next show. While sorting kit, he came across an
envelope containing his History Degree. The idea of combining variety performance
and history was instantaneous, and the shows expanded to become Greg’s main
form of event performance. Beyond the shows themselves Condensed Histories has
moved into books and a podcast hosted by Greg with many special guests. Greg is now directing and shooting a steampunk
film series. I love his enthusiasm and performance style. A style very, very different from
Greg and I meet up from time to time and at the Isle of Wight
Steam Show in August perform alongside each other in a daily finale to the
shows on my stage. That we only rarely
rehearse but seem always to be able to pick up from where we left off the previous
year is testament to the faith I have in his ability and enthusiasm.
This year I also met a young couple who
have the same passion and dedication to their art as Greg does. The Old Time Rags (https://en-gb.facebook.com/theoldtimerags)
comprise of Laurence and Phoebe.
Laurence is a one man band and has a remarkable and captivating
style. His partner Phoebe is a tap dancer
in the Appalachian flatfoot style (Google it) and shows such energy, passion
and big-hearted enthusiasm in every tap that I just had to invite them to join
me at some of my events this year. They performed
with me on the stage at Wallingford BunkFest and at York Vintage Fair. Together their infectious love for performance
make for a wonderful time-stopping experience for everyone (including me).
It is a very different experience having others onstage with
me. The reactions from the audience are
very different. Instead of being part of
the relationship with me as solo performer, the audience is, in addition, an
observer of the relationship I have with those other performers, and that they
have with each other. A subtle yet key
difference.
It is a difference which I have played with
previously but have, more recently, avoided.
Working with others has implications as well as rewards. You have to agree. You have to share the artistic vision and at
a very basic level, you have to get on with each other. In the past I have found this has often been
challenging. But at least for the
present I am very happy to continue to explore an occasional liaison with
these talented and exceptional people. For 2018 I am planning a show which
commemorates the end of the Great War and will include some of these performers
in a Variety Show with music, dance and physical theatre. It is still at the ideas stage and I will
keep you informed as it grows.
All the best from a road near you,
Mr Alexander
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