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Thursday 25 March 2010

Changing sides or A Midsummer Night's Dream

A recent sms from my mother: “I fell in love with elephants”. No, she hasn’t moved to Africa; my mother has been visiting St.Peters- burg in February. The only elephants to be found at this time of the year in St.Petersburg (or any other time of the year in St.Petersburg) were in a circus…

Now, wait a minute, am I missing something here? My mom, who since I can remember (and that would be for about 30 years this time) was declaring her disdain for circus and was vigorously cultivating a matching contempt in her two daughters, was IN LOVE with it? Here is a heart break for you. Is there anything for me left to believe in? Anything at all? It was my third favorite subject (after Casinos and ZOOs) to pour my scorn on (not that I do it often or excessively). I feel like I lost the best comrade, the ideological anti-circus leader. Disoriented and determinated to prove her wrong I am going undercover.

Here I am, sitting in S12 train from Brugg to Winterthur on a sunny Thursday morning, reading the new brilliant novel by Nick Hornby “Juliet, Naked”, and trying to reason what is wrong with the circus:

1. Clowns. They are scary. Not funny. Fake. (The only clown I ever liked was on a photo – it was the best art item of an exposition I visited few years back – he looked frustrated and has been curled up in a bath tub with a bottle of wine).

2. Animals. Don’t, oh, don’t tell me they prefer jiggling balls and dancing, to running around the savannah and copulating happily. Every time I hear about accidents involving a trainer I feel a little pang of satisfaction (scratch out the lethal cases, I am not that vicious). But still, remember the recent tragedy when the killer whale dragged his 40 year old woman trainer under water and she died? … Hello? It’s a KILLER whale, remember? Never underestimate the nature.

3. Acrobats. I mean, have you seen those muscles? With those physiques they should join a fire brigade or REGA, or something, I mean, what a waste. The best counterargument I got to this one was: “You are making art. There is no use to it either”. Righty.

Arriving to Rikon, ZH where Circolino Pipistrello is stationed. For a couple of hours I am “a representative of the Russian National Circus”, as Marc Palino Brunner, the director of the upcoming new production “EIN SOMMERNACHTSTRAUM”, jokingly introduced me to the troupe. I am watching, absorbing, and trying not to be judgmental (which isn’t even an issue by the way). No clowns with orange wigs. Check. No animals (at least I haven’t seen one apart from lazy cats stretched out on the sun). Check. Some muscles indeed, but it is actually quite pleasant to look at them (err…scratch that one too). Check.

What I see is a group of young alternative men and women (personally I don’t like the term “alternative”, misused too much and is too general – alternative to what?) with a passion for acting, for drama. Their enthusiasm, their bravado is contagious. I am enjoying the preparation process so much that I decide not to stay for the general rehearsal with costumes in case I come to their premiere this weekend. I can’t believe it is happening to me…

Simona Hofmann and Marc Palino Brunner, directors of  EIN SOMMERNACHTSTRAUM show, discuss last details.

Friday 19 March 2010

Wednesday Blues, Thursday Jazz

Yesterday my otherwise vacant evening was interrupted by a phone call with a request to fill in at the bar. It was Thursday, which in UnvermeidBar language means JAZZ.

Since I can remember (and I can only remember from February 2009 on (that’s when I learned to know the Teatro Palino gang) every Thursday a tiny stage of UnvermeidBar is filled with talented, prominent (or not at all), but invariably very cool people.  Christoph Baumann, Hämi Hämmerli, Toni Renold – just to name a few.

To be frank, I have no idea when the “Ueli &Friends” project started. Every Thursday Ueli Gygli, teacher by day and pianist by night, walks through UnvermeidBar doors - with a guest. It is always a mystery. It is always a treat.

Ueli and his companion take their places on stage. The atmosphere is light; the guest of the night is humorous and easy going. But something is different. After a few minutes the audience falls silent (a pretty rare event too). Suddenly it feels like a chamber music concert. 
The guest is Gallus Burkard. He has been a member of the Zurich Tonhalle-Orchestra since 1990. He plays contrabass which he built himself (being nearly illiterate music-wise I admire anyone who can play anything, but building your own instrument which can actually produce a sound?..). Since 10 years Gallus plays with Trio Gilboa and is a member of Swiss Octet. A striking resume and a matching personality to go with it.


If you happen to be in Baden on Thursday evening, don’t miss the opportunity to meet some extraordinary people at the UnvermeidBar.

Have an extraordinary weekend everyone!