QuestFest describes itself as, "QuestFest is a two-week international festival celebrating visual theatre. QuestFest features groundbreaking work from exceptional performers and companies dedicated to the use of movement, gesture, and digital media to tell stories. By stripping away the artifice of language, QuestFest builds bridges between disparate communities and cultures.....", "Celebrating visual theatre..."
For two weeks, March 1-14, 2010, some QuestFest performances were hosted at the Baltimore Theatre Project and Creative Alliance at the Patterson, while the bulk of the performances were at Gallaudet University.
The first presentation on Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 6:30pm was Alonzo's Lullaby by Nana Projects (funded by the Jim Henson Foundation. Outside the venue, we were greeted by Stiltwalkers. QuestFest's website explains Nana Projects to be a "non-profit company of visual alchemists inventing innovative artwork blending puppetry, performance art and public spectacle." One could even add optical illusionists to this list. The story unfolds by using three individual projectors (light sources) for shadow (cut-out) puppets and slides. The program states that the creation of such a performance, takes "1,200 hours to complete one 18-minute show!" A one dimensional paper or medium designed to give the audience the feel of seeing a trapeze artist or acrobat hanging like a bat from a suspended swing, in preparation for the spin curl jump to another swing? Then, when the spin curl jump is executed by the one dimensional shadow, the audience sees the background moving and changing to give one the feeling of continuous motion and a fall through space (one dimensional space, remind you). Optical illusionists. Mood and ambiance is set by the melodious voices and instrument playing of the two musicians.
The Foster Auditorium hosted a performance by David Gaines, "7 (x1) Samurai." The QuestFest website describes Mr. Gaines performance as, "...mime, storytelling, and clown to recreate the renowned 3 hour movie in the space of 60 minutes." Acrobatic would be an understatement for most. Mr. Gaines "jumps and slides" and hurls himself all over and across the stage so that he can "jump or slide" into character(s) with his presentation performance. The audience doesn't get lost; especially with the bipolar masks. These two masks were thoughtfully and painstakingly designed and crafted. The masks almost function like landmarks or scenery changes. Yet once the masks come off, the audience has an opportunity to ask questions of the actor who asks the audience to start asking questions of the director first to give the actor time to take off the makeup (LOL--the actor and the director are one and the same---{well, at least they house the same body}). This performer artist seems to be very personable, funny, seemed to have a warm personality and genuineness about him (giggle--a person who works hiding behind a mask is genuine-ha). Also, Mr. Gaines was willing (very aptly) to learn and incorporate Sign Language for the short spoken lines. What an artist!!!! The ability to work in different mediums!
During our short visit here most of the attendees were not from the Gallaudet community. There were other performances that had a stronger draw (possibly Nano and Gin and Tonic). Soooo......if you know of any Deaf events, let us know! Thanks
What an experience! But then again, most quests are!
