OBSERVER: Masterpiece
Something of a hybrid show that used clowning and mime performance styles, Masterpiece had the intriguing tagline “No words. One task. Two clowns”.
However the intrigue, sadly, was all too short-lived.
Two art installers appear on stage dressed in black and wearing professional-looking white gloves.
They are in an art gallery and carry with them a large wrapped rectangular package. They proceed to unwrap the package revealing a canvas which they then hang.
Ingenious in its simplicity, Masterpiece was written and created by Will Bartolo and Rae Colquhoun-Fairweather.
The two characters they played were contrasting archetypes, Bartolo being the serious responsible adult and Colquhoun-Fairweather the playful childlike figure.
Once the scene was set a number of sight gags and slapstick routines ensued. Regrettably most were predictable and cliched with the only activity involving a sense of surprise or risk being the involvement of audience members.
Bartolo and Colquhoun-Fairweather themselves played the installers, with musical accompaniment reminiscent of a silent movie score ably provided by Gabbi Bolt. Clowning and mime demand a lot of performers, especially with regards to physicality and timing. Too often though both performers’ timing was off or their physicality lacked skilfulness and, consequently, the humour fell flat or felt forced.
Interestingly no-one was credited as a director or outside eye. This explains many of the problems Masterpiece had. Someone working with Bartolo and Colquhoun-Fairweather could have helped edit scenes that went on too long or added some pizzaz to physical routines. A critical eye giving such feedback was sorely needed to help give the show a tighter shape.
Disappointing overall then, Masterpiece can be applauded for the risks it took and what it sought to achieve while simultaneously acknowledging that it over-reached itself in too many ways too often.
Venue: Meat Market – The Stables 1, 36-54 Courtney St, North Melbourne
Review by Peter Murphy