Topped and tailed by the songs of Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse, Hiding Behind The Mask comprises two lectures looking at jokers, Fools, vaudevillians and comics.
New York professor Rosemary George takes a measured look at what ‘wearing a mask’ really means to us as human beings and sets this against the background of theatrical performance.
This is a masterclass in how we become what we are not, from the ‘tears of a clown’ to the masks of traditional Japanese Noh. It considers the jester as the communicator of the soul.
It’s a tricky show to review. It isn’t in any way theatrical, it both touches on many different forms and places where the mask appears. As a lecture, it makes no concessions to the camera as Prof George either looks out as us or glances at her notes.
There is considerable meat on the bones, though. Whether the practice of Roman and Greek theatre is being discussed or Mr Bean’s mime, the points are made in a way that is constantly interesting.
Considering the two lectures as two halves of the show, the first is much stronger, with pertinent clips and examples added at relevant points. The second half, which moves away from the masks of humanity and more into comic routines, loses a bit of focus.
Perhaps this is the fault of the show titled as advertised: Hiding Behind The Mask – Jesters, Jokers and Clowns. This seems to offer a cohesive viewpoint between the two halves which we do not get.
The event seems to be done without an audience for the most part and carefully navigates the path between an academic approach and populist chat.
I did enjoy it, and I can see it is useful as a primer or beginner glimpse into a complex subject that starts even as we add any layer of make-up to our faces.
You can watch Hiding Behind The Mask during Brighton Fringe on the C ARTS platform, with tickets here.
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