Mind-blowing Mummenschanz
24 Mar 2011
My mind was blown, my imagination pulled to its limits and my cheeks hurt from smiling. This was not some huge musical or even a one-man comedy show, it was four people, with no music, no dialogue and only a few props. Everything that entertained was on their bodies, as costumes and masks, and they made those costumes come to life as one would never believe possible.
How the hell do they do that?
There was audience interaction too, which is very odd when it's a "larger than life" hand that is coming up to you to pat you on the head. More than once during the show I was confused by how many people were in a suit, Which end was which? And, of course, how the hell do they do that?
The company consists of Floriana Frassetto, who is the founder of Mummenschanz, Bernie Schurch, Raffaella Mattioli and Pietro Montandon. This spectacular show began all the way back in 1972, so it has been running now for 39 years. Mummenschanz translates into English as masquerade.
You have to see for yourself
I don't want to give away too much about what happens on stage, because it's something you have to see for yourself for it to actually make sense. But I can tell you that there are putty masks, ballet dances of sorts, plastic bag faces, larger-than-life costumes, dancing sticks and so much more to feast your eyes on.
I will admit that there were a few acts that I didn't think were that great and I wondered at the necessity of them, but on a whole it was amazing, spectacular, mind boggling and simply damned fantastic.
If you haven't already seen them, then you can buy tickets for the Johannesburg show at the Joburg Theatre, or in Port Elizabeth at the Opera House, or you can book at the Natal Playhouse. Make a plan to see it because there is literally nothing like it.
